Mabele took no prisoners
A gallant woman who led from the front
One can safely say that if ever there was a gathering of minds to influence national policy and action plan for people living with HIV/Aids and on gender, chances are that Prudence Mabele would either be in the room as a delegate or as one of the leading lobbyists representing the masses.
At the time when all we heard about Aids was from big billboards screaming in red: “Aids Kills”, in the early 1990s, Mabele became one of a few black women who stood up and disclosed their status.
Mabele was diagnosed with HIV as a teenager. She faced a tsunami of stigma, swam against the current and demanded a platform to be heard and treated with humanity and dignity.
She had this beautiful, restless and questioning energy around her that turned her into a fierce and true activist who could never be bought to betray her principles.
Working with her were other role models including Mercy Makgalemele, Musa Njoko and family mediator Angie Diale. These women worked tirelessly in various organisations throughout the 1990s to force the nation to have different conversations about HIV/Aids.
From access to treatment to auditing the real problem, Mabele criss-crossed the world and spoke at various local, continental and global platforms and lobbied tirelessly in a voice that always challenged the status quo.
Diale described Mabele as strong-headed and “someone who always spoke her mind”. “She tackled issues of justice in a broad spectrum. She was a truth teller at all times.” she said.
Diale said Mabele took on scientists, politicians and fellow activists on debates about HIV. She was also dedicated to networking and connecting people.
“I’m sad she did not reach her jubilee ... the fun person that she was, I know she would have danced up a storm at her birthday party.”
Mabele died in hospital on July 10‚ 11 days before her 46th birthday, which was due today.
Fellow gender activist Tracey Fared recalled how Mabele’s spunk once saw her march into a seminar at the Durban’s World Aids Conference in 2003, where she proceeded to the podium. She then took a microphone and refuted claims by a pharmaceutical company. The company had lied about her when it claimed she used their ARVs.
That was the straight-talking, brave and no-nonsense Mabele those who knew will miss.
Prudence Nobantu Mabele was buried on Wednesday.