Amelia Mbokane who was intentionally infected with HIV by her boyfriend, in a Bushbuckridge News exclusive, committed suicide on 24 August.
Mbokane’s boyfriend had allegedly infected her with HIV “because he loved her.”
When Bushbuckridge News spoke to the man accused of intentionally infection Mbokane, he was not remorseful and defended his actions as an act of love.
According to Mbokane’s mother, she used a robe to strangle herself.
Amelia story was published on Bushbuckridge News of 12-18 August 31, 2011 issue.
Mbokane’s shocked mother said that her daughter had been acting strange since Monday because she wanted to most of the family members and called those who were not around, but the thought that she would take her life never crossed their minds.
“She went to bed just like on other normal days”, her mother said.
They realized that something was wrong when she didn’t get up to prepare her children for school and when her mother went in to find out what was keeping her, she discovered her daughter’s body hanging from the rope tied to the roof.
According to her sister who didn’t want to be named the last time she spoke to Amelia she mentionted that the pressure is too much for her especially waking up every day, knowing that she’s HIV positive and having to depend on pills was not the idea of her life.
The family says they had been supportive since the day they found out she was HIV positive.
Mbokane’s boyfriend blamed Bushbuckridge News by saying if we didn’t publish the story she would still be alive. He (the boyfriend) is seeking legal advice and threatens to sue the newspaper.
Amelia left behind her 2 sons, 3 sisters, 2 brothers and her mother; she was buried at the Mafihlwana cemetery on Sunday.
Mbokane had wanted her story published in Bushbuckridge News as a warning to other women who might be infected by their partners.
September 8, 2011
Current Affairs