Finding the others

June 13, 2013Produced by Pholokgolo Ramothwala
As the country marks youth month, we also remember the challenges that young people are confronted with. One of which is the high risk of contracting HIV and Aids. Those infected continue to face stigmatisation and negativity as a result of their illness, and messages that associate their state with hopelessness for the future.
Through his personal quest to come to terms with his HIV+ diagnosis, almost a decade and a half ago, Pholokgolo Ramothwala touched many lives, made many friends, and discovered life beyond mere survival. We follow his fascinating life and the genesis of the Positive Convention for People Living with HIV – a loose association of young professionals with big lives to live. This documentary demonstrates immense ability of young people to take charge of their lives, despite theodds. A bucket list is the series of things you want to do in life before you, well, kick the bucket. The preference is not to have the list accelerate the kicking of the bucket. For Pholo and his friend Kau, bungee jumping, despite the risks, has become a matter of staring down everyone who had ever said they would not have a happening life. Most of all themselves.We join them as they embark on a road trip to the BIG JUMP and they introduce us to special friends they’ve made along the way – people living with HIV who havereached the stage where HIV can no longer define their every moment.

Thursday, 13 May 2013 at 9:30pm on SABC 3.

For Pholo, the big jump is about taking what seems scary to begin with – like HIV, disclosure, believing in the future – mulling it all over, finding a place of peace within himself and then taking the crazy plunge.For Kau it’s about eyeballing fear, and not backing down.Once, he was almost too afraid to face life at all. Too afraid to take the test his doctor insisted on as he showed all the classical symptoms of someone who might have HIV. His doctor literally had to push him. Not ideal. Now he knows that he should have just taken the leap.When Kau was diagnosed with HIV eight years ago, he so firmly believed that the only logical outcome was imminent death, that he sold his townhouse in Kempton Park and took the money to go see the ocean for the first time and do a few other reckless things before he died.Now he is kicking himself. He is alive – in peak physical condition.
*written & directed by Anna-Maria Lombard and camerawork by Jan Botha*

– By Finding the others