History+Of+South+Africa-+SP11

__**History Of South Africa**__ South Africa was first discovered in 1652 by Dutch traders when it became a stop along the spice route from the Netherlands and Far East. This stop soon became the city of Cape Town, and many Dutch settled there. Soon, in 1806 the British captured the nearby Cape of Good Hope, scattering the Dutch settlers north. These Dutch settlers, known as the Boers, created their own republics which only grew with the discovery of gold and diamonds. With these discoveries, they began intruding onto the native peoples homelands. However, in the early 1900's the Boers, later been known as the Afrikaners, were conquered and defeated by the British. In 1910, the remaining Afrikaners and the British created an union under the name South Africa. Over the years, a power struggle remained between the two groups, until the Afrikaner National Party gained a majority. Once they gained a majority, they created the Apartheid form of government in 1948 to seal their economic and social power. Racial discrimination across the country followed suit as stricter territorial separation and police repression ensued.

__**History of AIDS in South Africa**__ Due to this Apartheid form of ruling, the government quickly dismissed the occurrence of HIV/AIDS within the gay community and refused to act or take preventive measures. AIDS was first found in South Africa when two white homosexual flight stewards who recently visited the United States tested positive. From there, the homosexual community was soon tested and it was found that 12.8% of the 250 specimens were known to be positive. As stated before, the AIDS occurrence rate grew, due to the current oppressive government of the time. Thus, because of their refusal to act, the disease soon spread through blood donations to patients who received blood products. By July 1991, the cases attributed to heterosexual transmission far surpassed those attributed to homosexual transmission and has continued to remain the dominant way of transmission. However, AIDS wasn't just spread by the homosexual community, in 1987 the first black South African was diagnosed among a group of mine workers. It was then thought to have been spread from neighboring countries like Malawi into South Africa, ever increased by the frequent contact of other Africans.

__**Present Day Africa**__ Present day, AIDS and HIV has been prevalent across the continent of Africa. However, South Africa, containing around 5.6 million people with AIDS in 2009, boasts the highest percentage of the infected. A total of 310,000 people in this country died of AIDS in 2009 alone and the death tolls are on the rise. 17.8% of people aged 15-49 years old are inflicted with AIDS.

__**Individuals Involved with AIDS in South Africa**__

__**Jacob Zuma-**__ President Zuma, the current president of South Africa since May 2009, plays a big role in the past and current situation of AIDS in Africa. In 2006, President Zuma was convicted of raping a family friend that was HIV positive. His protection? none. Going against the HIV/AIDS policy the government holds of encouraging people to be faithful and use protection. This was a negative situation in South Africa's fight against AIDS because it not only brought a negative light to his political career, but encouraged commoners to disobey these laws. However, now he's taking a more positive stance by increasing AIDS treatment, medicating infected newborns, and encouraging the use of condoms as quoted in his speech on World Aids Day. (Picture to the right is Jacob Zuma getting tested for HIV

__**Nelson Mandela-**__ Nelson Mandela, president of South Africa from 1994-1999, has continously rallied against AIDS attempting to raise awareness even more since his son Makgatho died of AIDS in 2005. After his presidency, he has attended meetings like the Internation AIDS conference in 2000, the 46664 AIDS Fundraising Campaign (named after his prison number), organized benefit concerts, and another International AIDS Conference in 2004.(picture of Nelson Mandela