Issued by: GCIS
26 November 1999
THEME: LISTEN; LEARN AND LIVE
President Thabo Mbeki will address a World AIDS Day festival in Pretoria, Church Square, organised by the Inter-Departmental Committee on HIV/AIDS (IDC), around this year's theme by UNAIDS: Listen, Learn and Live.
The IDC, as an umbrella body of government employees which seeks to prioritise HIV/AIDS issues in all government departments, will host one of the biggest World AIDS Day events in Gauteng, including senior government officials, the country's top entertainers and celebrities.
The festival will feature some of the big names in the entertainment industry, among them Boom Shaka, Ringo Madlingozi, Miss Teen South Africa - Shannel Denise, actors from the country's most popular soapie -Generations, DJ's Christos and Da Vinci and well known radio personality Bob Mabena, who will be the Master of Ceremonies for the day.
Sowetan columnist, Lucky Mazibuko, who is a person living positively with AIDS will be among the speakers at the event, addressing the public in promoting the South African theme of " Our Actions Count", within the broader UNAIDS theme of " Listen, Learn and Live".
Celebrities will pledge their commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS and will be signing autographs to "celebrity-hungry" fans. Non-Governmental Organisations and Labour from in and around Pretoria will exhibit their AIDS materials from the information stalls. Recent videos on HIV/AIDS in the country will also be showing on the big screen.
For further information, please contact:
Ms Violet Temane : (012) 314-7394/ 083 761 0442
Mr Tebogo Diale : (012) 422-4194/ 082 376 9176
Mr Niko Knigge : (012) 312-0148/ 082 707 5559
Mr Gift Buthelezi : (012) 672-2302