This is an archive of the Treatment Action Campaign's public documents from December 1998 until October 2008. I created this website because the TAC's website appears unmaintained and people were concerned that it
was becoming increasingly hard to find important documents.

The menu items have been slightly edited and a new stylesheet applied to the site. But none of the documents have been edited, not even for minor errors. The text appears on this site as obtained from the Internet Archive.

The period covered by the archive encompassed the campaign for HIV medicines, the civil disobedience campaigns, the Competition Commission complaints, the 2008 xenophobic violence and the PMTCT, Khayelitsha health workers and Matthias Rath court cases.

 
Defiance Campaign
 

Christopher  Moraka (1956 - 2000)
(written by Sipho Mthathi on behalf of TAC Nyanga branch)

Christopher lived with HIV for more than ten years before he died of an “undiagnosed disease”. Like many in South Africa, had he had access to better health care and HIV treatments, he might have survived.  But, unlike many,  he died knowing what his rights were and he fought for them.

He joined TAC in January this year. He and his partner Nontsikelelo, were the first ones from the Nyanga Clinic support group (which Christopher, with two other members, started) to join the campaign for treatments. Since then they have convinced more than 10 members from that support group and others from clinics in the area to join the Campaign. He was Organiser of  Nyanga TAC’s work.

In the little time that he has been with Nyanga TAC, he has taught all of us the meaning of real courage. He challenged societal discrimination towards people with HIV. He has mobilised other PWA’s in the townships to live openly with HIV and to join the campaign for treatments. He has challenged health worker’s careless attitudes in clinics and day hospitals  in the area. He has gone as far as Parliament to speak against unjust government policies on HIV/AIDS.

He has been the heart of all our community actions and campaigns in the group. He was passionate about the Pfizer campaign… and through this he earned the nickname
“Mr Sluconazole” i.e. Steere + Fluconazole without the F.
He gave evidence at the parliamentary hearings on access to treatment earlier this year.

In 1996 he lost a child to HIV. He leaves behind his partner Nontsikelelo (also living with HIV), an 11 year old daughter, six siblings and two parents.

His death has redefined the meaning and gravity of the campaign for HIV TREATMENTS for all of us in the group.

We salute Him for his indomitable fighting spirit, now and forever!

Aluta Continua!

Defiance Campaign Homepage