YCL MOURNS DJ KHABZELA

15 January 2004

The Young Communist League (YCL) joins millions of South African youth in mourning the saddening death of Y-FM DJ Khabzela (Fana Khaba) following his public disclosure of his HIV-positive status not so long ago.

We express our condolences and sympathy to his family, friends and colleagues at Y-FM.

His example inspired many young people: living in and surviving the apartheid and capitalist ghetto to which millions of young people are condemned: having to live with, and survive the daily reality of poverty, joblessness, homelessness, exposure to the HIV/AIDS pandemic, limited life opportunities and choices, lack of access to quality education, limited skills development opportunities and exposure to crime.

His life from being a taxi-driver to become a nation-wide popular DJ was legendary and shows the resolve of our country's youth to struggle for a better life. His role as a DJ was also important in building a positive image of young people: his social commentary was at the pulse and beat of young people today; he knew their feelings, concerns, interests, fears, aspirations, struggles and hope for the future.

His life and death reminds us of the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic on our youth:

• Young South Africans are a high risk group exposed to unwanted pregnancies, STDs and HIV/AIDS;
• Poor access to information and services means that there is no HIV/AIDS counselling, testing, medication and support for many young people;
• The public health system does not have sufficient dedicated HIV/AIDS programmes focusing on young people;
• The economic impact is disastrous: economically active people lose income as they become more sicker, the social wage and social security system cannot cope with increasing numbers of those who need social support, the sick need care and financial resces are required for this care.

The YCL calls on all our country's youth to honour the memory of Khabzela by taking part in the struggle against HIV/AIDS including the struggle for the extension of access to information, improvement of the prevention and education campaign, provision of anti-HIV/AIDS drugs and the improvement of the public health system. The YCL believes that the best monument to Khabzela, and many other young people who die from HIV/AIDS related diseases, will be a consistent struggle against the reality of capitalism and the legacy of apartheid. Young people want recreation, free education, skills development, real life opportunities and choices. As Khabzela's life and struggle show, capitalism denies these to young people.

CONTACT
Buti Manamela
YCL National Secretary
082 222 5474