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American Morning

12-Year-Old AIDS Activist Dies

Aired June 01, 2001 - 11:31   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
STEPHEN FRAZIER, CNN ANCHOR: It has been 20 years now since the discovery of the AIDS virus. And on this day, AIDS activists and other people around the world are mourning the death of a young child who was hailed as an icon by former South African President Nelson Mandela, 12-year-old Nkosi Johnson was born with the AIDS virus. He was an outspoken champion for those with HIV.

CNN's Johannesburg bureau chief, Charlayne Hunter-Gault, has more now on the life of this remarkable little boy.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHARLAYNE HUNTER-GAULT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Nkosi Johnson knew how to win hearts and minds.

NKOSI JOHNSON, AIDS ACTIVIST: I'm 11 years old. I have HIV positive.

HUNTER-GAULT: This was the rehearsal. But in a few hours, Nkosi would speak "truth to power," joining critics challenging what was then government's policy of refusing to provide anti-retroviral drugs to HIV-positive pregnant women.

JOHNSON: I get very sick -- and very sick. And I get very sad when other infected children and babies are dying.

HUNTER-GAULT: Nkosi was initially given nine months to live when he was 2 years old. He was taken in by his foster mother, Gail Johnson, with the blessing of his destitute HIV-positive mother, who has since died.

Nkosi Johnson first entered public consciousness in 1997 when he successfully fought parents against his admission to school due to his HIV-status. By age 11, he had achieved near-celebrity status and had won the acceptance of his classmates at the Melville Primary School.

When his condition deteriorated in December, after a series of seizures which left him semi-comatose, his classmates, along with the nation, rallied: at a birthday party he couldn't attend, at a church service he was probably unaware of.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Father in heaven, give him relief from all his pain and discomfort.

HUNTER-GAULT: Nkosi's strength gave out early Friday morning.

GAIL JOHNSON, FOSTER MOTHER OF NKOSI: I'm sad. But his race was run. I think we knew that a long time ago. I'm exceptionally proud of my son.

HUNTER-GAULT: At his school nearby, one of his classmates said he was glad he was without pain, but mourned his passing.

UNIDENTIFIED CLASSMATE: Well, I'm actually feeling very lost without him -- not that he was actually at school, but just knowing that he was here.

HUNTER-GAULT: A memorial service will be held on Thursday, followed by the funeral on Friday.

(on camera): Nkosi Johnson will also be buried on Friday. But his message that AIDS victims are people, just like everyone else, is sure to live on.

Charlayne Hunter-Gault, CNN, Johannesburg.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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