Honorary citizenship for Aids activist
“The sun was setting and I had gotten these horrible ‘slap’ chips in Karasburg. I decided to cycle through the night because visibility was so good.”
Knysna HIV-Aids campaigner, André van Zijl narrates one of his many adventures by bicycle, which have taken him all across Southern Africa. This one, however, took place one full-moon in May this year, while he made his way to Upington from Noordhoek, Namibia – the country which recently offered him honorary citizenship for his activism. “When I was cycling I could see for miles in the moonlight. The night sounds were incredible as well.”
He was cycling in Namibia when he got the call. “I couldn’t believe it when they asked me!” he declares. Stunned, he then asked the presidential office of Hifikenpunye Pohamba whether he could call them back.
Since the start of 2012, Van Zijl has spoken to more than 60 000 learners at 120 schools, and cycled over 20 000km. His journey from Noordhoek, which took him through Karasburg and across the South Africa-Namibia border (where his face is familiar to border officials), constituted 540km of the total and took him 30 hours to complete.
On April 3 he celebrated his 62nd birthday, and chose to cycle from Bloemfontein to Kimberley for the occasion. Nevertheless, he is a cautious cyclist, advocating courtesy and avoidance of risks when travelling on the road. He also claims to prefer road cycling to mountain biking.
He visited Botswana in May and spoke to restaurant workers and various high school learners, claiming that people were genuinely intrigued and attentive to what he had to say. “They were also grateful that someone was willing to take the time out and speak to them,” he adds.
Van Zijl was diagnosed with HIV in 1984 at the age of 34. Since December 2010, he has been cycling to raise awareness and funding for orphans, particularly those who are disabled. “Every child in the world is one of my children.”
Of the offer made to him by the Namibian government for citizenship of that country, he states, “It was just their way of saying thank you. It makes one humble.”
He believes it is essential for every person to know his/her HIV status, in the interest of protecting both themselves and their loved ones.
In the future, Van Zijl plans to return to Botswana and to visit Swaziland, raising awareness of HIV-Aids among school learners. He is to receive citizenship of Namibia some time in 2013.
Source: The Knysna-Plett Herald