BBC News - Monday, 14 October, 2002
Allan Little

Some surveys suggest that up to a third of South Africans believe in an ancient and bizarre "cure" for AIDS.

This "cure" involves having sex with a virgin in the belief that it will cleanse the body of venereal diseases like AIDS.

It was this belief which led to the rape of an eight-month-old baby called Tshepang in Louisvale, South Africa.

In October 2001, "Wanda" a 16-year-old mother left Tshepang with her grandmother Poppie and went to a local bar.

Poppie, who was already drunk, put her to bed with Tshepang's four-year-old cousin and then fell asleep.

In the early hours of the morning, the grandmother woke and found that the baby had been raped.

Six arrested

Initially, the police detained six local men as suspects, but after four months, a DNA sample found at the scene of the crime eliminated them from the investigation.

In July 2002, David Potse, otherwise known as "Panas", was convicted for Tshpang's rape and indecent assault.

The evidence was found in a match of DNA from semen found at the scene of the crime and from a testimony from Panas' girlfriend who had been with him and witnessed the rape.

The judge, who sentenced Panas to life imprisonment plus 18 years for indecent assault, said he deserved the death penalty had it still existed.

The six original suspects, later cleared of any involvement in the rape, made it clear how the myth has taken hold in elements of South African society.

Radio advice

One of them revealed how local radio programmes are widely misinterpreted.

He told Correspondent: "A man listens to what's being said about the world - I heard about the small child and how the sickness goes away."

"It's said that if you are sick and have AIDS - you can rub the disease off on a baby," another added.

These comments are firm convictions for too many people in South Africa.

Professor Heinz Rode, of the Red Cross Children's Hospital in Cape Town is clear where the problems lay.

He said: "The government policy precludes the free circulation of anti-retro viral drugs to people with the disease.

"As a result, people seek desperate ways of curing themselves. The reality is that witch doctors have spread the idea that if you have sex with a virgin, you can cure yourself of AIDS."

In a country with the world's highest incidence of rape, even baby rape victims are not allowed life saving anti-AIDS drugs.

To compound matters, there has been no government-backed information campaign about the devastation and reality of Aids.

With witch doctors still commanding a great deal of respect in South Africa there is widespread concern that the belief in this myth is putting every child in South Africa at risk.

AIDS : A South African Horror Story: Tuesday 15 October 2002 on BBC Two at 2320 BST

Reporter: Allan Little

Director: Cliff Bestall

Co-Director: Pearlie Joubert

Editor: Karen O'Connor

Deputy Editor: David Belton

Online Producer: Andrew Jeffrey

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