To Live and Die in South Africa

Clarice and I had the opportunity to travel to Cape Town, South Africa in September. I went to work on a motion picture called "The Silent Fall" for Sunrise Productions, a group of displaced filmmakers from Zimbabwe (see www.sunrise.co.za). The story of the film is kind of a micro budget "The Constant Gardener," a crime thriller set in the world of an AIDS orphanage and pharmaceutical tampering.

Travel to Cape Town was an eye opener in two ways; seeing the abject poverty in the townships, which have grown since Apartheid ended as politicians bus in villagers and buy their votes with empty promises.... ...and realizing that the rest of Cape Town is in many ways a gorgeous resort destination like Hawaii. Very much the first world; no need for any immunizations at all. You can even drink water straight out of the tap.

We visited South Africa with pre-conceived notions about the AIDS crisis based on American news and some documentaries we had seen. I'm sure I only know an oversimplified version of the truth. Our friends from Zimbabwe and South Africa had their own opinions of the crisis. I wondered why the Church in Africa doesn't seem to be speaking out on AIDS prevention or sexual fidelity. We learned some very interesting cultural facts that explain this. In Africa, there is a stigma associated with acquiring HIV/AIDS even in the church. Pastors who die of AIDS are reported to die of pneumonia or another symptom of the disease. There is a reluctance to admit that one has HIV/AIDS. However, there is no stigma associated with the behaviors that transmit the disease; promiscuity being the main behavior. In America there is still somewhat of a stigma associated with having sex outside marriage and education about HIV/AIDS is taken very seriously. But in Africa, unless people, and especially the Church, start admiting that HIV/AIDS is a problem, there will be no open dialogue. In Sunrise Productions' "The Silent Fall," the leading lady, an American educated doctor, admits she is HIV+. This was an intentional story element to create discussion about the disease.

Another problem in Africa is the ancient cultural practice of multiple wives. Many tribes have a practice that if a man dies, his brother takes the widow as his wife. Now, if the man who dies gave AIDS to his wife, she will give it to the brother and he will give it to his other wives. Another way AIDS is transmitted is when working men travel to the cites to find employment and take a mistress, apparently an acceptable practice. Also unfortunate is the breakdown of the family caused by these separations. Eventually, AIDS spreads back to the village.

What is the solution? Who will lead in breaking some of the cultural strongholds? What is the Church's responsibility? What about the countries like Zimbabwe that are run by dictators who are in denial of their country's problems?

I'd love to hear from you guys...
Ian