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The National Youth Commission (NYC) has learnt with sadness the tragic death of two of its HIV/AIDS Young Positive Living Ambassadors in the Free State.

According to reports sent to the NYC, Vincent Maphabole and Boitatelo Motshabi died in a shooting incident that involved a third party who also died in the scuffle that ensued after the two had been wounded. Boitatelo died instantly while Vincent died later in hospital.

The two ambassadors worked in the Free State as part of the NYC HIV/AIDS programme called young Positive Living Ambassadors (YPLA), which is a peer education initiative aimed at informing young people of the dangers of unprotected sex. Central to messages of the project, ambassadors seek to encourage behavioural change and to promote the spirit of positive living among young people who have tested positive to HIV.

The two ambassadors worked tirelessly against ignorance exacerbated by poverty and underdevelopment ravaging our communities, which often leads to the spread of preventable diseases such as HIV/AIDS and other STDs.

Vincent Maphabole and Boitatelo Motshabi will be buried in Winburg and Bultfontein respectively on 22 December 2001.

The NYC regrets this loss of life by young people and sends its condolences to both the Maphabole and Motshabi families during this hour of darkness.

For comments please contact Monde Mkalipi at 082 575 3976

Issued by the National Youth Commission (NYC)

20 December 2001