LEAVING HOPE VOLUME
THANDI
44
I decided to focus my story on my friend Phindile (not her real name). She is originally from KZN - came to Johannesburg in 2002 to look for a job. We met in Hillbrow where we work as sex workers - that is how we became friends. Phindile, due to lack of employment, started working as a sex worker. A man offered her a place to stay since she was homeless at the time and that’s when she unfortunately got raped by the man and contracted the disease. Now she’s been living with HIV for 8 years. She struggled to get business because the colleagues are telling the clients that she is positive and now the owner for the hotel wants her to leave. She has a healthy 5 year old daughter. She faces discrimination daily from her colleagues during her shift at work. When clients want to take her they scream and say that she is on ARVs. What made me do this story is that we are all in one way or another affected/infected.
Movement, migration, traveling.
Phindile’s daughter is HIV negative and Phindile says that she is proud that her daughter is negative. She is thankful to have a supportive mother who helps her take care of her daughter.
Barriers in life.
VOLUME
44
THANDI
2
1
4
3
6
5
7
1. Phildile’s childs toys. Family. 2. Migration to Joburg looking for a job. 3. Phindile has been living with HIV for 8 years and she is now on the antiretroviral treatment. She became HIV after she was raped. 4. Homeless on the streets. When Phindile first came to Johannesburg she lived on the streets. 5. Violence, repair and HIV 6. Unable to work. Hiding. 7. Block of flats in Hillbrow where Phindile lives with her 5 year old child.