Young AIDS activist Nkosi dies

 
Posted Fri, 01 June 2001
South Africa's longest surviving child Aids sufferer, 12-year old Nkosi Johnson, has died, his adoptive mother Gail Johnson has said.
Nkosi died peacefully in his sleep just before 6am today, she said.
He became critically ill in December last year after suffering seizures. On 4 January, Johnson took him home after doctors said there was nothing more they could do for him. He suffered several more seizures and was in a semi-comatose state.
On Wednesday, Johnson came under fire from Johannesburg reflexologist Hilda Khoza who claimed that Johnson was abusing Nkosi for financial gain.
According to a story published by The Sowetan newspaper, Khoza had said that Nkosi was fit to go to school. Khoza also lodged a complaint with the SA Human Rights Commission.
Yesterday, Johnson allowed the media to photograph Nkosi for the first time in months in an attempt to refute Khoza's claims. She said that she felt defamed and that she was contemplating legal action against the newspaper.
Johnson said this morning that she would issue a media statement later in the day.
 
>>back