Prudence Nobantu Mabele (1971-2017) Positive Women's Network

Prudence, a 21 year old student, was the first woman in South Africa to openly declare a positive HIV positive diagnosis.

After her announcement she was met with insults, presumptions that she was a sex worker and expectations that she would die soon. Her university barred her from finishing her studies.
(She lived to the age of 45 and she did gain some diplomas (light current engineering, psychology and management)

She turned to volunteer work but struggled with suicidal feelings.
She qualified as a sangoma - a traditional healing.

*She visited so many grieving families. When lesbians were killed, Pru went. When another HIV positive woman died, Pru was there. When a woman was murdered. Pru was at the font. painted up, dolled up, voice rugged,breathing through her mouth, swearing and joking and sweating, she was there.
Sisonka Msimang

She a member of the One in Nine Campaign
She set up the Positive Women’s Network in 1996.
In 1998 she helped start Treatment Action Campaign TAC)
She was the recipient of the Felipa de Souza award in 1999.
In 2004 carried the Olympic flame in Greece.

At the time of her death in 2017 she was involved with many organizations
( See ‘Career’ for full list)

Prudence worked to better the lives of those around her,she rose from despair to heroism in incredibly difficult circumstances Maliha Abidi

Sources
Wikipedia
RISE:Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Changed the World by Maliha Abidi