Johnson Refutes Newspaper's allegations |
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| Thursday, May 31, 2001 |
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| Johannesburg, South Africa. Gail Johnson, foster mother of child with AIDS Nkosi Johnson, has strongly refuted the allegations made by South Africa's Sowetan newspaper on the front page of today's issue. The newspaper alleges that Johnson is abusing the child for financial gain. |
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| The paper cites a certain Dr. Hilda Khoza as saying that Nkosi Johnson is "'fit to go to school' but his foster mother 'does not allow him to do so.'" |
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| Dr. Khoza further alleges that "'Nkosi has become a bank to Gail. She does not want the public to know that the child is better because donations would no longer be forthcoming.'" |
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| In response to these accusations, Johnson invited media to a news conference at her Melville (Johannesburg) home, where the semi-comatose and brain-damaged Nkosi Johnson is unaware of this latest development. |
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| Says Johnson "Unless it took place without my knowledge or consent, Dr. Khoza has never examined or even come close to my child. I consider her conduct to be highly irresponsible and would like a written retraction of the matters set out in this morning's Sowetan, and an apology. And at the same time, I think it only fitting that the Sowetan give as much prominence to our story (the real facts) as it gave to Dr Khoza's." |
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| Nkosi's doctor, Dr. Coovadia stands by his present treatment of Nkosi. He is one of South Africa's leading medical authorities in the treatment of HIV/AIDS and personally attends to Nkosi's ongoing treatment. |