17 March 2000
Deputy President Jacob Zuma meets with the cast and crew of the popular show "Umzini Wezinsizwa" at the Presidential Guest House, tomorrow the 18th of March 2000.
The popular sitcom, which aired on SABC 1 on Thursdays at 20h30 until recently, is one of the most popular TV shows and has kept South African audiences captivated for years. It is for this reason that the cast and crew felt that they could use it to help spread the message about changing behaviour to "Break the AIDS Chain".
They approached the Deputy President and requested a meeting with him and relevant Ministers to discuss how they can use this popular show in future to assist in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The Deputy President agreed to the meeting because of his belief that all South Africans have to mobilise and "do their bit" in fighting this scourge. He often uses the analogy of war in his speeches on HIV/AIDS and this theme is the underlying principle to this meeting - that in a state of war all members of society, from all walks of life, use whatever means they have at their disposal to ensure the survival of their nation.
Issued by the Office of the Deputy President