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Episode 26 - Human Rights

The reaction to HIV/AIDS in our country has at its root been in contravention of many of the inalienable human rights defined in our constitution. Public health policies for the prevention, education and treatment of HIV/AIDS should take into account respect for human rights as core to the challenge of HIV/AIDS. This week Siyayinqoba Beat It! tackles this issue of basic human rights within the framework of HIV/AIDS. One of these issues is the way people with HIV are treated in their work environments. Skhumbuzo Maphumolo from the AIDS Law Project joins the support group in the studio.

Shalom Ncala: Sanibomani! Siyanamukela ku Siyayinqoba Beat It! Uhlelo lwawo wonke umuntu ohlangabezana nonqoba izintselo zesandulela ngculaza nengculaza. Samkela ithimba elisekelayo. Kunemithetho eminingi kulelizwe lakithi evikela abantu abaphila negciwane lengculaza nesandulela ngculeza ukuthi  bangacwaswa emisebenzini. Kodwa siloku sisizwa iindaba lapho abantu bexhoshwa noma banga khushulelwa ezinkundleni emva kokuveza isomo sabo kubaqashi babo.Namhlamje ukuxoxa louludaba sino Sikhumbuzo Maphumulo osuka enhlanganweni ebizwa nge AIDS Law Project.  Sawubona Sikhumbuzo. (IsiZulu) Hi,welcome Siyayinqoba Beat It! The show for everyone meeting and beating the challenges of HIV and AIDS. Welcome to the support group. There are a number of laws in our country that protect people living with HIV from being discriminated against at work. But we continue to hear of cases where people are dismissed or denied promotion after disclosing their HIV positive status to their employers. With us today to discuss this issue is Skhumbuzo Maphumulo from the AIDS Law Project. Hello Skhumbuzo

Skhumbuzo Maphumulo: Sawubona Shalom (IsiZulu) Hi Shalom

Shalom: Ninjani?  (IsiZulu) How are you?

Skhumbuzo: Siyaphila ninjani? (IsiZulu) I'm very well thank you.

Shalom: Cha kumnandi ukuba nawe namhlanje. (IsiZulu) Thanks for joining us today.

Skhumbizo: Ngiyajabula. (IsiZulu) I'm happy to be here.

Shalom: Ngonyaka ka 2000 uSiyayinqoba waba nohlelo ngesiqhumo senkatolo yomthetho sisekelo  eyichitha ukucwaswa ngenxa yesimo somntu sesandulela ngculaza. Leli cala lafaka phakathi umnumzana uHoffman owayefumane umsebenzi enkampanini yamabhanoyi i- SAA kodwa akazange aqashwe emva kukuhlola atholakale ukuthi une sandulela ngculazi. Akhe sibheke. (IsiZulu) In the year 2000 Siyayinqoba featured a programme about a Constitutional Court ruling that outlawed discrimination on the basis of one's HIV status. This case involved Mr. Hoffman who wanted a job with SAA but was denied employment by SAA when he tested HIV positive. Let's take a look.

Luvuyo Nibe: Ityala lika Hoffman kunye no SAA lityala elino mtsalane kwaye elibalulekileyo kwimbali yethu kunye nomgaqo sisekho wethu. Njengoko ibhaliwe kwindonga zenkundla zomgaqo siseko ukuze sazi izimiselo zokulingana kwimthetho yethu. Phantsi komgaqo siseko wonke ubani nokuba ukwesiphi isikundla kufuneka afumane inhlonipho elinganayo. Lenhlonipho iyaphela xa ucalucaluwa ngokungekho semthethweni (IsiXhosa) The Hoffman vs SAA case is a landmark case in the history of our constitution. Written on the walls of the Constitution court, it enshrines forever the principle of equality in our law. Under the constitution all human beings, regardless of their position in society, must be accorded equal dignity. That dignity is impaired when a person is unfairly discriminated against.

Hoffman: It all happened quiet a few years before that I had applied for a position in SAA, as a flight attendant. It's been a dream for me since school years already. I applied numerous times where I had a normal standard letter "sorry your application was unsuccessful" after which I continued applying. I finally receive a successful application. Eight of us finally made it through to the medical test where, we were flown to Jo'burg and were subjected to medical tests, hearing, sights, blood pressure all of those things. They also asked us if we were to conscience to an HIV test

Fatima Hassan: It is illegal which means it's unlawful and its also unethical for any person to be tested for HIV without their informed consent.

Hoffman: They just said if you do object to a against an HIV test please sign this form.

Fatima: An informed consent means they have receive pre and post counselling.

Hoffman: I was asked to please come to the trainings managers' office and there was a doctor, doctor Peters and he asked me if I know of I was HIV positive. Which the first time the results were pronounced to me and I said to him no. He spent a maximum of five minutes with me and told me there is no way I can have that job. He than handed me four or five pages of documentation on the SAA and British Airways and Loftaza, that has similar testing and has some policies and gave reasons of the yellow fever vaccine being a high risk situation. I really believed we were going to win the case in the Supreme Court. I didn't fight it as a labour case, I did address it being unfairly being discriminated against. We immediately made an appeal against the Supreme Courts decision and refer it to the Constitutional Court

Fatima: We do have our first Constitutional Court case on the right of the employees in a working environment place.

Hoffman: It practically took them four weeks to come out with the judgment which was about forty pages.

Justice Sandile Ngcobo: The appropriate relief is an order directing the South African Airways to employee Mr. as a cabinet attendee with effect from the date of this order.

Hoffman: I was quite excited when I heard that I had won the case, but I was quite unsure what was going to happened. The SAA has since has offered me a position I will accept and take the position. I definitely want to fly and I will make every effort to keep myself happy as well as SAA happy with my employment.

Fatima: The Constitutional court judgment will have implication certainly for every type of employee in South Africa more especially the mining industry. What it will do it will show that HIV testing can not be justified unless there is a rational connection to the coherent requirement of the job and a position for cabinet attendant is in fact a very exceptional category of employment because of the yellow fever in  occultation. Firstly about the employment equity act I must say it's the most positive piece of labour legislation or employment legislation that has come out of South Africa but also from around the world. It's the only positive piece of legislation that specifically protects the rights of people living with HIV and specifically protects against pre employment HIV testing where it's not authorized by the labour court. And this is regarded as a world first.

Shalom: Skumbuzo bengicela ukuthi usicacisele kahle leya judgment ka Hoffman ibisho ukuthini meyisithi i-SAA irongo ngale ndlela ibi treat uMr Hoffman . And futhi what does it mean ama implications aleya court ruling athetha ukuthini ophila ne HIV? (IsiZulu) Skhumbuzo, can you explain about the judgment in the Hoffman case? Why was the SAA wrong in the way they treated Mr. Hoffman? And what do the implications of that court ruling mean for someone living with HIV?

Skhumbuzo: I-constitutional court yatsho ngokusobala ukuthi awukwazi ukuthi uphoqelele umntu ukuthi ateste and ccthen emva koko bese uthola ukuthi unegciwane lesandulela ngculaza bese sowuthi akakwazi ukuthi aqashwe lomuntu lowo. Abantu abakuleso simo njengoba sazi kusenzeka namanje kufanele bayisebenzise i-constitution ngoba sine judgment and i-constitution yethu kuyaonakala ukuthi ibalulekile kwaye iyasebenza. (IsiZulu) The Constitutional Court ruled that you can not force a person to test and then when they test HIV positive you deny them employment. Anybody who is in that situation, as we know that it's still happening, should use the Constitution because we have this judgment. And our Constitution has proved to be important and effective.

Busi Maqungo: What does the labour law say about okokuqala umntu pambi kokuba aqashwe njengokuba ebetshilo uHoofman intobana kwayefuneka ukuba makateste njengoko sisazi ukuthi abantu abaninzi bona kunoba baye kwi Cnstitutional court achinga ukuthi baphelele kufanele baphelele kwi labour law abayazi intobana banganako okuqhithela kwi Constitutional Court? (IsiXhosa) What does the labour law say about pre-employment testing? Like Mr. Hoffman said in the insert he had to be tested. And we know that most people only think as far as the labour law. They don't know that they can go all the way to the Constitutional Court.

Skhumbuzo: Ngokujwayelekile ucala kwi High Court ngama cases anjena ngalawo. And then uma uthola ukuthi mhlawumbe inkantolo iruler against wena at that level, then ungakhona ukuthi u-appeal. Uthathe icase yakho uyidlulisele kwi Supreme Court e-Bloemfontein. Uma uyise eSupreme Cort of Appeal, icase yakho uthole ukuthi uyayi luza le case uyakhona ukuthi you appeal again kwi Constitutional Court if ngabe u-believe ukuthi ama lungelo akho a-involved. But it's only in relation kuma constitutional issues. You can't take any other case to the Constitutional Court. (IsiZulu) Normally with a case of this nature you would start with the High Court. If the case rules against you at that level, you can appeal and take you case to the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein. If you loose at the Supreme Court of Appeal, you can again appeal to the Constitutional Court, if you believe that your constitutional rights are involved. But it's only in relation to constitutional issues. You can't take any other case to the Constitutional Court.

Busi: But kengoku umntu angazi kanjani ukuba le ukuthi i-Constitutional. Umzekelo ukuba ndicwase ngumntu nje elokishini ingaba ndiya straight kwi Constitutional Court. How do we know kahle kahle ukuthi lena it's a constitutional matter it needs to be handle by the Constitutional Court? (IsiXhosa) How does one know if a case is constitutional? If I'm discriminated against by someone in my community can I go straight to the Constitutional Court?  How do we know that this is a constitutional matter that needs to be handled by the constitutional court?

Skhumbuzo: Ubheka iBill of Rights , ubheke ukuthi yimaphi ama rights am anga affected. For instance, umangizothi ngiye eguest house for instance abantu abamnyama abavumelekile abantu aba gay are no permitted in that guest house then lokho kukucwasa on that basis. So but can get proper  advice ukuthi yiphi icourt eright for your matter where you can be satisfy yi outcome. Once you get that advice, you would then take the necessary action. (IsiZulu) You look at the Bill of Rights and see which of your rights are affected. For instance, if I have a guest house and say that black people or gay people are not permitted in that guest house, that is discrimination on that basis. But you can get proper advice as to which court is right for your matter, where you can be satisfied with the outcome. Once you get that advice, you would then take the necessary action.

Busi: So eka Hoffman yona yintoni eyayenza ukuthi ibe kwi Constitutional Court? (IsiXhosa) So what made the Hoffman case go to the Constitutional Court?

Skhumbuzo: Involve SAA. SAA is the major airline in the country. So waba important ukuba sithole iruling fro the highest court in the land. And of course AIDS Law Project from what I know is ukuthi beyi assess the merits of the case bathi uma bebheka babona ukuthi sisohamba all the way to the Constitutional Court. Because after all the legal stages are exhausted you then decide uthi I will take the matter to the Constitutional Court. (IsiZulu) It involved SAA. SAA is the major Airline in the country. So it was important that we get the ruling from the highest court in the land. And of course the AIDS Law Project from what I know, they assessed the merits of the case and saw that we would go all the way to the Constitutional Court. Because after all the legal stages are exhausted then you decide to take the matter to the Constitutional Court.

Shalom: Kwa violatwa amaphi amalungelo ka Hoffman? (IsiZulu) Which of Mr. Hoffman's rights were violated?

Skhumbuzo: The right to Equality is the most important one ngoba wathola ukuthi Hoffman ubandlululwa akatreatwa njengabantu aba HIV negative for instance abatholwa ukuthi baqashwe kungabi namanye ama questions  abuzwayo. (IsiZulu) The right to Equality is the most important one because he was not treated  like HIV negative people are  treated. They are employed with no questions asked.

Luckyboy Mkhondwane: Since i-Constitutional Court iyiyo eya ruler ukuthi kune discrimination laphaya. Ngaba this thing applies kuwo wonke lama court akhona la like ama court angaphantsi kwi Constitutional court or iphelela khona kuphela. (IsiZulu) Since the ruling in this case came form the Constitutional Court, does this apply to all the other courts below the Constitutional Court or does it just end there?

Skhumbuzo: All the decisions of the Constitutional Court zibhayinda wonke ama courts in the country. In this particular it is not necessary for a person to go all the stages again and try to reach the constitutional Court when you already have a judgment. If the facts are similar, you can rely on the judgment ka Hoffman and persuade the court ukuthi  kufanele bayilandele leyo decision. (IsiZulu) All the decisions of the Constitutional Court bind all the other courts in the country. In this particular it is not necessary for a person to go all the stages again and try to reach the constitutional Court when you already have a judgment. If the facts are similar, you can rely on the judgment ka Hoffman and persuade the court to follow that decision.

Shalom: Ninganyakazi, siyabuya khona manje (IsiZulu) Don't go away, we'll be right back.

Shalom: Siyanamukela futhi ku Siyayinqoba Beat It! Sikhuluma ngokucwasa emsebenzini. Inkantolo ephakeme yase Pitoli  isandukulahla ngecala umgomo wombutho wezovikela ngokwala ukuqasha noma ukuthuma amasosha aphila negciwane lesandulela ngculaza. Kuze kube yimanje umbutho wezovikela wakuleli ubusala ukuthuma amasosha aphila nesandulela ngculaza emisebenzini  esemazweni angaphandle. Lenkantolo yanquma ukuthu loku akkhukho emthethweni futhi umbutho kumele uyishintshe imigomo yawo. (IsiZulu) Welcome back to Siyayinqoba Beat It! We are talking about discrimination in the workplace. The Pretoria High Court recently ruled against the National Defence Force's policy of refusing to employ or deploy soldiers living with HIV. Up to now the SANDF has refused to deploy soldiers living with HIV on operations outside the borders of our country. The High Court ruled that this was unfair and unjust and ordered the SANDF to change their policies.

Luvuyo Nibe: Ingxoxo nomkhosi wozokhuseleko  woMzantsi Africa kudala ziqhuba. Ngo 2006 u-Siyayinqoba Beat wenza ibali ngomfana owayefuna ukuba lijoni kodwa akazange avunyelwe  kuba waye phila nentsolongwane kagawulayo. (IsiXhosa) The case against the South African National Defence Force has been brewing for sometime. In 2006, Beat It! Did a story about a young man who wanted to be soldier. The SANDF would not accept him because he was living with HIV.

Tebogo: (SeSotho) I had to report to army headquarters on 3 January 2000. I went there and started our training until they tested us for HIV and they discovered I have HIV.

Liesl Gerntholtz: In this case our client who is fit and health is currently not on antiretroviral medication has been stopped by the SANDF from being an employee simply because of his HIV status. And this inquiry doesn't involve a consideration of their actual state of health and whether they are able to do the job. All that is done is an HIV test is conducted as part of the pre employment screening process and people who test positive are then automatically prevented from joining the SANDF. We think that, that constitutes unfair discrimination.

Gen. Pieter Oelofse: Our current policy states that at entry to the military we do a comprehensive health assessment. And if the person has any chronic debilitating disease at that point in time that will impact negatively on the ability to be soldiers. Because we must always understand what we expect of a soldier to be doing, then that would exclude them from entry from the National Defence Force. And obviously HIV /AIDS is such a disease and at this stage it is part of our policy then to exclude people to enter the Defence Force on that bases.

Vuyo: I-Aids Law Project iqhubile ngokuzimanya kwingxoxho kunye noMkhosi wezokhuseleko eMzantsi Africa ngokuzama ukutsintsa inqubo yabo . Umkhosi wezokhuselelo woMzantsi Africa uthembisile ukuba uzakuyitsintsa inqubo yayo kodwa abazange. Ngo May 2008 i-Aids Law Projects ilithathile elityala yalisa kwinkundla ephakamileyo yase Piltoli. (IsiXhosa) The Aids Law Project continued to engage the SANDF about changing it's policy. The SANDF kept promising that they would change but they never did. In May 2008, the AIDS Law Project took a case to the Pretoria High Court.

Sipho Mthethwa: Ndajoyina i-SANDF ngo 1994 ngesikhathi se integration. Ndatesta positive from ngo 1999 and then I went through ama counselling. After counselling 2004 ngaqala ngadla ama ARVs. Ngiwadlile ama ARV i-CD4 count wami ngenkathi ngiyaqala yayingu 200 then yanuka yaya ku 500. I-viral load  wami its 50. In the army there where this challenges zokuthi if you're HIV positive you cannot do this, The army excluded us kwi officers formative nakwi external deployment. (IsiZulu) I joined the SANDF in 1994 during the period of integration. I was diagnosed with HIV in 1999 then started to go for counselling. After counselling I started with ARVs that was in 2004. Hen I started with ARVs my CD4 count was 200 then it went up to 500. My viral load was 50. In the army there were these challenges that if you're HIV position you cannot do this, and you cannot do that. The army excluded us from the officers formative and external deployment.

Skhumbuzo Maphumulo: And uma sithola uma yibheka kahle the 1996 Constitution ichaza ngokusobala ukuthi there is a right to equality okuchaza ukuthi abantu akufanele babandlululwe ngokwebala, nangezinye izinto njenge HIV. Inkinga ka Sipho kwabakuthi even though u fit as we speak I CD 4 count yakhe i-high, akana masymptoms ye AIDS and utrainer abantu for ama deployment, u-prepare abantu for i-deployment but defence force ngenxa yama policies ibingafuni a diployer ngaphandle. And thye don't believe ukuthi abantu aba HIV can do the job and they are vulnerable to sicknesses and they can't survive in harsh conditions. Kwathi ekugcineni siyabona ukuthi hayi kufanele siye eCourt. Abantu aba deploy ngaphandle bathola imali eningi okodlula bantu abahleli la ekhaya kuma bases. So this is one of the incertives ezenza abantu ukuthi bahambe baye bafune uku deplowa.(IsiZulu) If you look closely at the Constitution of 1996, it explains clearly, that there is a right to equality which means there shall be no discrimination on grounds of color and other things like HIV. Sipho Mthethwa's problem was that even though he was fit and his CD4 count was high, he had no symptoms of HIV and he was preparing for deployment, but because of the Defence Force Policies they didn't want to deploy people externally. They say that, they don't believe HIV positive people can do the job, and they are vulnerable to the sicknesses and they can't survive in harsh in conditions. At the end of the day we decided to go to court. Soldiers deployed outside the country earn more money than those who remain at the bases. SO this is one of the incentives for soldiers wanting to be deployed outside the country.

Sipho: I court ya ruler in favour thina ngako i-defence force zange yenze lutho. Ayenzanga lutho ayikhombisi i-prepared ukuthi kukhnona into efuna ukuthi iyenze. Into abayenzile batraye ukungi ignora as much as  possible ukuthi le victory leyo ngingayi fili and nabanye abantu banga fili ukuthi kubekhona  ivictory. (IsiZulu) The court ruled in our favor but the SANDF never did anything. It doesn't look like hey are prepared to do anything. What they tried to do was to ignore e as much as possible, so that I can't feel the victory of the court case and they wanted to influence other people to not eel the victory as well.

Skhumbuzo: It was agreed and it was made an order of court that uSipho they will reconsider him for immediate deployment. Azange kwenzeke lokho siyazi ukuthi  i121 Battalion lapho uSipho akhona ilapha eMtubatuba le KwaZulu Natal. It has deployed to the DRC. Sipho Mthethwa is not considered for deployment. (IsiZulu) It was agreed and it was made an order of court that uSipho they will reconsider him for immediate deployment. We know that the 121 Battalion where Sipho is based now, is in KwaZulu Natal. It was deployed to the DRC, but Sipho Mthethwa was not considered for deployment.

Sipho: Idefence force yenze abantu aba positive bafila as if ingathi abalutho.Yenze abantu abningi bachatsha abanye they don't even want to test ngoba umntu into ayochabangayo umasengi testiwe then what it means it's the end ngawe. (IsiZulu) The defence force has made people who are HIV positive feel like they are nothing, it as stopped a lot of people from testing  because they think after the test it is the end for them.

Skhumbuzo: Fortunately we live in a constitution democracy and we have laws that must be respected and the Aids Law Project among other human rights bodies are there to ensure that the constitution is protected. So we will see to it that justice is archived at the of the day.

Sipho: Abase army mabatestwe but mababe ne hope uthi one day i-system in the SANDF will change. (IsiZulu) All those in the army must go for the test and they must have hope that the system within the SANDF will change.

Vuyo: Ngo May 2008 umthetho owawisa yinkundla ephakamileyo yase Pitoli wanika umkhosi wezokhuseleko woMzantsi Afrika inyanga ezinthandathu ukuze utshintse umagaqo wayo we HIV. uSiyayinqobo ubuyile emva kwenyanga ezisibhozo ngo January 2009 ezokubuza ukuba ingaba Umkhosi wezokhuseleko woMzantsi Afrika ungahlomla uthini kulomba. A review of the Department of Defence HIV/AIDS policy is currently on going. Thus it will be premature to speak on this matter (IsiXhosa) I May 2008 the Pretoria High Court ruling gave the SANDF 6 months to change its HIV policies. When Siyayinqoba Beat It! Asked the SANDF, 8 months later in January 2009, for comment on this matter they replied saying: A review of the Department of Defence HIV/AIDS policy is currently on going. Thus it will be premature to speak on this matter

Shalom: Mina njengomuntu ophila neHIV into engifuna ukuyazi yini into abagxiile kuyo kakhulu bantu be Defence ekulweni elicala benilifakile? (IsiZulu) As someone living with HIV I would like to know, what was the SANDF's argument in fighting this case?

Skhumbuzo: Lana ngizo mentiona three things that I remember that were central to the case itself. Njengokuba uSipho egcazile uthola ukuthi kwi defence force ngoba wena u-HIV positive awukwazi ukuthi uyangaphandle. But bayakwazi ukuthi bakunikise kwamanye amaparts eSouth Africa bayakumixer eKruger NationalmPark lapho iyi Malaria prone area. And these people abafana no Sipho aba healthy and all that thing they  survive these conditions. They've proven themselves in fact part of the evidence esyi producile e court kukukhombisa ukuthi ukuba HIV positive doesn't not necessarily mean you are sick. In fact you are as healthy as you appear. And one other aspect was that bebala ukuthi baqashe umuntu o HIV positive, as you could see from the representative of the SANDF. And another aspect of this case was basically you could not be promoted to certain ranks if you're HIV positive. So that's the case basically in a nutshell. (IsiZulu) I will mention three things I remember that were central to the case itself. Like Sipho said, they wouldn't deploy you outside our borders if you're living with HIV.  But they will deploy you to other parts of South Africa, like Kruger National Park, which is a Malaria prone area. And people like Sipho are healthy and all, they survive these conditions. They've proven themselves. In fact part of the evidence we produced in court was to show that being HIV positive doesn't necessarily mean that you're sick. In fact you are as healthy as you appear. One other aspect was that they refused to employ you if you're HIV positive, as you heard from the representative of the SANDF. Another aspect of this case was basically you could not be promoted to certain ranks if you're HIV positive. So that's the case basically in a nutshell.

Luckyboy: Masibheka kwi Labour Relations Act kukhona iclause leyana noma ngingayazi ukuthi itsho  kanjani le i-mentionayo izinto ezinga apply to National Defence Force or National Intelligence Agency ndifuna ukwazi mna ukuthi isizathu ukuthi like these two zibe different from other fields zomsebenzi kuyini. Why should we have such things because ku obvious ukuthi yi discrimination into leyo especially kuzinto eziphathele ne health issues and HIV. (IsiZulu) If you look at the Labour Relations Act there is a clause there that says there are certain things that do not apply to the National Defence Force or the National Intelligence Agency. Why are these two different from other fields of employment?  Why should we have such things because it's obvious that there is discrimination especially when it comes to health issues and HIV?

Skhumbuzo: The reason why you have these two institutions excluded from those provisions kukuthi these are the institution that are central to the protection of the country. But if ingabe kuyabonakala ukuthi umntu uyabandlululwa ngoba e HIV positive surely that has nothing to do with the defence of the country. They are using lawo ma provision ukuthi ba enforce prejudice against certain individual.(IsiZulu) The reason why you have these two institutions excluded from those provisions is that these are the institutions that are central to the protections of the country. But if a person is discriminated against these basis of their HIV positive status, surely that has nothing to do with the defence of the country.  They are using those provisions to enforce prejudice against certain individuals.

Shalom: Abayibheki nokuba there is treatment for such and such disease. (IsiZulu) They don't even look at whether there is treatment for such a disease and all that?

Skhumbuzo: That is correct because when you look at the insert again you can see they simply say you are not fit, without looking at whether you're on treatment. You could see people are lifting logs there, but some of them could be HIV positive. But you find ukuthi just because of your positive results they turn you down, which is really unfair. (IsiZulu) Yes that correct. When you look at the insert again, you can see they simply say you are not fit, without looking at whether you're on treatment. You could see people are lifting logs there, but some of them could be HIV positive. But you find that just because of your positive results they turn you down, which is really unfair

Shalom: Sithatha ikhefu eliphuthumanyo. Siyabuya khona manje. (IsiZulu) We're talking a quick break, see you just now.

Shalom: Siyanamukela futhi ku Siyayinqoba Beat It! Sikhuluma ngokucwaswa emisebenzini ngenxa yesimo sesandulela ngculazi. Akhukho emthethweni ukuthi umqashi wakho akucwase  ngenxa yokuthi unesandulela ngculazi. Uma sengathi awuphathekanga kahle kufanele uluxoxe loludaba nosizinyonyana noma ummeli. Uma sigqoke lamabhengile sibonisa ukuthi sizigcina siphephile futhi silwawula izimpilo zethu. Zivikele uvikele nabanye. Siyafisa ukuzwa umbono wakho ku-Siyayinqoba Beat It! Thumela umbono wakho kwimininingwane kumabona kude wakho manje. Sinifisela ukhisimusi omuhle nonyaka omusha onesilokotho ezintle, khumbula,zivikele, uphinde uvikele nabanye. (IsiZulu) Welcome back to Siyayinqoba Beat It! We are talking about discrimination at work on the basis of your HIV status. It is illegal for your employer to discriminate against you on the basis of your HIV status. If you feel that you have been treated unfairly, you should discuss you case with your union representative or a lawyer. We love hearing from you at Siyayinqoba. Please send us your comments to the details on your screen now. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year. Remember, protect yourself and protect others. Until next time, keep well!