Donate
Health

The grip of HIV and tuberculosis in South Africa: Portraits of survivors and those who are gone

The World

South Africa is taking major steps in scaling up treatment and prevention services, yet it remains the country with the highest number of people living with HIV.

Three years have passed since I photographed women living with HIV and multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis in Gugulethu, a township in Cape Town. I recently returned to the country to attend the biennial UN HIV/AIDS conference in Durban, and I tried to find three women I met in 2013.

Of the three women, Lutango and Fundiswa have become statistics, memories; they died just months after I photographed them, from tuberculosis.

Their children and grandchildren were taken in by neighbors and relatives. Only Orianda is still alive, though most of her family has succumbed to the epidemic too.

Lutango, 2013

Lutango Nompumelelo, 42, washes before going to the hospital. She shared her bed with her children Mcepisi and Akhona. 2013, Gugulethu, Cape Town.
Lutango Nompumelelo, 42, washes before going to the hospital. She shared her bed with her children Mcepisi and Akhona. 2013, Gugulethu, Cape Town.Misha Friedman

2016

Mcepisi, 15, after his mother, Lutango, died of tuberculosis in 2013. His younger sister was adapted by her biological father. He now lives all alone and is supported by neighbors.
Mcepisi, 15, after his mother, Lutango, died of tuberculosis in 2013. His younger sister was adapted by her biological father. He now lives all alone and is supported by neighbors.Misha Friedman

Fundiswa, 2013

Fundiswa, 34, at a church where she sang. This photograph was taken in 2013. Fundiswa died in September 2013.
Fundiswa, 34, at a church where she sang. This photograph was taken in 2013. Fundiswa died in September 2013.Misha Friedman

2016

Likhanyise, 6, poses for a photograph at the same spot in a church where his grandmother Fundiswa was phototgraphed three years ago. Fundiswa died in September 2013.
Likhanyise, 6, poses for a photograph at the same spot in a church where his grandmother Fundiswa was phototgraphed three years ago. Fundiswa died in September 2013.Misha Friedman

Orianda, 2013

Orianda reflects on how she felt when she found out about being diagnosed with HIV and tuberculosis in this photograph taken in 2013, Gugulethu, Cape Town.
Orianda reflects on how she felt when she found out about being diagnosed with HIV and tuberculosis in this photograph taken in 2013, Gugulethu, Cape Town.Misha Friedman

2016

Orianda, 60, was first diagnosed with HIV and tuberculosis in 2013. She has recovered from tuberculosis, but has a cane and wears a corset to support her frail body. Cape Town, 2016.
Orianda, 60, was first diagnosed with HIV and tuberculosis in 2013. She has recovered from tuberculosis, but has a cane and wears a corset to support her frail body. Cape Town, 2016.Misha Friedman

Remembering those lost …

Fundiswa, photographed in May 2013, died in September 2013.
Fundiswa, photographed in May 2013, died in September 2013.Misha Friedman
Fundiswa at Gugulethu's Community Health Center. 2013.
Fundiswa at Gugulethu's Community Health Center. 2013.Misha Friedman
Lutango Nompumelelo seen here in May 2013. She died in June 2013 after suffering from HIV and tuberculosis for many years. Gugulethu, Cape Town.
Lutango Nompumelelo seen here in May 2013. She died in June 2013 after suffering from HIV and tuberculosis for many years. Gugulethu, Cape Town.Misha Friedman
Lutango Nompumelelo in her backyard. 2013, Gugulethu, Cape Town
Lutango Nompumelelo in her backyard. 2013, Gugulethu, Cape TownMisha Friedman
Sputum collection room at Gugulethu's Community Health Center, 2013.
Sputum collection room at Gugulethu's Community Health Center, 2013.Misha Friedman

This story was produced with support from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.

South Africa is taking major steps in scaling up treatment and prevention services, yet it remains the country with the highest number of people living with HIV.

Three years have passed since I photographed women living with HIV and multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis in Gugulethu, a township in Cape Town. I recently returned to the country to attend the biennial UN HIV/AIDS conference in Durban, and I tried to find three women I met in 2013.

Of the three women, Lutango and Fundiswa have become statistics, memories; they died just months after I photographed them, from tuberculosis.

Their children and grandchildren were taken in by neighbors and relatives. Only Orianda is still alive, though most of her family has succumbed to the epidemic too.

Lutango, 2013

Lutango Nompumelelo, 42, washes before going to the hospital. She shared her bed with her children Mcepisi and Akhona. 2013, Gugulethu, Cape Town.
Lutango Nompumelelo, 42, washes before going to the hospital. She shared her bed with her children Mcepisi and Akhona. 2013, Gugulethu, Cape Town.Misha Friedman

2016

Mcepisi, 15, after his mother, Lutango, died of tuberculosis in 2013. His younger sister was adapted by her biological father. He now lives all alone and is supported by neighbors.
Mcepisi, 15, after his mother, Lutango, died of tuberculosis in 2013. His younger sister was adapted by her biological father. He now lives all alone and is supported by neighbors.Misha Friedman

Fundiswa, 2013

Fundiswa, 34, at a church where she sang. This photograph was taken in 2013. Fundiswa died in September 2013.
Fundiswa, 34, at a church where she sang. This photograph was taken in 2013. Fundiswa died in September 2013.Misha Friedman

2016

Likhanyise, 6, poses for a photograph at the same spot in a church where his grandmother Fundiswa was phototgraphed three years ago. Fundiswa died in September 2013.
Likhanyise, 6, poses for a photograph at the same spot in a church where his grandmother Fundiswa was phototgraphed three years ago. Fundiswa died in September 2013.Misha Friedman

Orianda, 2013

Orianda reflects on how she felt when she found out about being diagnosed with HIV and tuberculosis in this photograph taken in 2013, Gugulethu, Cape Town.
Orianda reflects on how she felt when she found out about being diagnosed with HIV and tuberculosis in this photograph taken in 2013, Gugulethu, Cape Town.Misha Friedman

2016

Orianda, 60, was first diagnosed with HIV and tuberculosis in 2013. She has recovered from tuberculosis, but has a cane and wears a corset to support her frail body. Cape Town, 2016.
Orianda, 60, was first diagnosed with HIV and tuberculosis in 2013. She has recovered from tuberculosis, but has a cane and wears a corset to support her frail body. Cape Town, 2016.Misha Friedman

Remembering those lost …

Fundiswa, photographed in May 2013, died in September 2013.
Fundiswa, photographed in May 2013, died in September 2013.Misha Friedman
Fundiswa at Gugulethu's Community Health Center. 2013.
Fundiswa at Gugulethu's Community Health Center. 2013.Misha Friedman

Lutango Nompumelelo in her backyard. 2013, Gugulethu, Cape Town
Lutango Nompumelelo in her backyard. 2013, Gugulethu, Cape TownMisha Friedman
Sputum collection room at Gugulethu's Community Health Center, 2013.
Sputum collection room at Gugulethu's Community Health Center, 2013.Misha Friedman

This story was produced with support from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.

Invest in independent global news

The World is an independent newsroom. We’re not funded by billionaires; instead, we rely on readers and listeners like you. As a listener, you’re a crucial part of our team and our global community. Your support is vital to running our nonprofit newsroom, and we can’t do this work without you. Will you support The World with a gift today? Donations made between now and Dec. 31 will be matched 1:1. Thanks for investing in our work!