AIDS man scorned and beaten

THE first man in the Erongo Region to go public with his HIV-positive status was verbally attacked and physically beaten in public at Walvis Bay recently.

Anthony Plaatjies (43), or Koffi as he is better known, was waiting for a taxi to Windhoek at the Kuisebmond taxi rank when a man started swearing at him and calling him names. Telling The Namibian of this “humiliating experience”, Plaatjies said the man walked towards him shouting:”You have AIDS.You are infected with AIDS.You had sex in prison and now you have AIDS.”According to Plaatjies, he recognised the man from prison, but said they had never resented each other.”I just turned around and walked away from him, but he followed me and kept on swearing at me.As it was between 12h00 and 13h00 there were loads of people around and all of them started looking and listening.”According to Plaatjies, his attacker kept on pursuing him despite some of the bystanders telling him to stop.According to Plaatjies, they told the attacker it was clear that he did not want to fight.The man, who Plaatjies claimed was under the influence of alcohol, started tussling with him and eventually hit him on his jaw with his fist.”By this time I was boiling inside and could no longer hold back.I hit him back,” said Plaatjies.His attacker hit him about five times with his fist and head.The bystanders broke up the fight.Plaatjies said the humiliating experience continued when he got into the taxi after the fight and the other passengers kept on asking him whether it was true what his attacker had said.”In the four years since I have gone public with my status, I have never experienced something like this,” said Plaatjies.”It was the first time I have been attacked in public.People have overall been very kind and supportive.They would shake my hand and tell me I am brave.Never has anyone said it like that in my face.”As Chairperson of the ‘Positive but Confident Support Group’ at the Walvis Bay Multi-Purpose Centre (WBMPC) he has received a lot of support to help him recover from the shock.According to Plaatjies, the incident has made him stronger and more determined to carry on educating the public about HIV-AIDS.”The incident will not break me down.It has only shown me that there are still many misconceptions about the disease and that a lot more education is needed.”Herlyn Uiras, a member of the support group, the attack had come as a great shock to all of them.”I now fear that the same could happen to me.We need to work harder to make the public understand that we are not different people to stop the stigma attached to us.”Pamela Plaatjies, who married Koffi last year after a 13-year relationship, said anybody can contract HIV.”People should rather give a helping hand than discriminate.”Beverley Figaji, Director of the WBMPC, said she had contacted the Legal Assistance Centre after the incident.”They are willing to take up the case.”Plaatjies has laid a formal charge of assault and crimen injuria at the Police.Telling The Namibian of this “humiliating experience”, Plaatjies said the man walked towards him shouting:”You have AIDS.You are infected with AIDS.You had sex in prison and now you have AIDS.”According to Plaatjies, he recognised the man from prison, but said they had never resented each other.”I just turned around and walked away from him, but he followed me and kept on swearing at me.As it was between 12h00 and 13h00 there were loads of people around and all of them started looking and listening.”According to Plaatjies, his attacker kept on pursuing him despite some of the bystanders telling him to stop.According to Plaatjies, they told the attacker it was clear that he did not want to fight.The man, who Plaatjies claimed was under the influence of alcohol, started tussling with him and eventually hit him on his jaw with his fist.”By this time I was boiling inside and could no longer hold back.I hit him back,” said Plaatjies.His attacker hit him about five times with his fist and head.The bystanders broke up the fight.Plaatjies said the humiliating experience continued when he got into the taxi after the fight and the other passengers kept on asking him whether it was true what his attacker had said.”In the four years since I have gone public with my status, I have never experienced something like this,” said Plaatjies.”It was the first time I have been attacked in public.People have overall been very kind and supportive.They would shake my hand and tell me I am brave.Never has anyone said it like that in my face.”As Chairperson of the ‘Positive but Confident Support Group’ at the Walvis Bay Multi-Purpose Centre (WBMPC) he has received a lot of support to help him recover from the shock.According to Plaatjies, the incident has made him stronger and more determined to carry on educating the public about HIV-AIDS.”The incident will not break me down.It has only shown me that there are still many misconceptions about the disease and that a lot more education is needed.”Herlyn Uiras, a member of the support group, the attack had come as a great shock to all of them.”I now fear that the same could happen to me.We need to work harder to make the public understand that we are not different people to stop the stigma attached to us.”Pamela Plaatjies, who married Koffi last year after a 13-year relationship, said anybody can contract HIV.”People should rather give a helping hand than discriminate.”Beverley Figaji, Director of the WBMPC, said she had contacted the Legal Assistance Centre after the incident.”They are willing to take up the case.”Plaatjies has laid a formal charge of assault and crimen injuria at the Police.