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American Morning

Four Days of Celebration, Mourning Precede Aids Activist Nkosi Johnson's Funeral, on Saturday

Aired June 07, 2001 - 09:38   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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: As the world this week marks the 20th anniversary of the first report of AIDS, South Africa remembers a little boy who help put the face of AIDS on the map.

CNN's Johannesburg bureau chief Charlayne Hunter-Gault has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHARLAYNE HUNTER-GAULT, CNN JOHANNESBURG BUREAU CHIEF (voice- over): This is how they remembered Nkosi Johnson, with song, with tears and sadness, with words like these.

REV. BRIAN OOSTHUIZEN: Nkosi is the face of AIDS victims, hundreds of thousands throughout our land, throughout Africa, and in the world today. I'm sure he's want us to remember those others who perhaps will die at this very moment in some desolate spot, unknown, without any pomp and ceremony.

HUNTER-GAULT: There was ceremony here, but as the priest said, Nkosi would have wanted it, led by his black African grandmother, Ruth Khumalo, and his white foster mother, Gail Johnson. The audience, his classmates and friends, and also fellow AIDS activists -- babies and others from Nkosi's Haven, the home he and Gail Johnson started for HIV positive mothers, so they could remain with their children. Nkosi's mother died destitute, with AIDS, and without Nkosi.

Young women like these, who say they're in a better life now in Nkosi's Haven.

After the service, Johnson spoke of what she thought should be Nkosi's legacy.

GAIL JOHNSON, NKOSI'S ADOPTIVE MOTHER: Let's forget differences and cultures. We have a country that is dying, and shouldn't that be our concentration now?

HUNTER-GAULT (on camera): This marks the beginning of four days of mourning Nkosi's death and celebrating his life. He will be buried following his funeral, on Saturday.

Charlayne Hunter-Gault, CNN, Johannesburg.

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