Elton John boosts KZN HIV/AIDS fight

International pop star Elton John jetted into Durban yesterday (10 January 2005), not as a glittering celebrity, but to give hands-on support to people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

The visit was co-ordinated and hosted by the AIDS Foundation of South Africa in conjunction with the UK-based Elton John AIDS Foundation. The visit had been kept "under wraps" for several months.

For the Sinikithemba (Give us Hope) choir members at Durban's McCord Hospital, who learned only seconds before their performance the identity of their VIP guest, it was a moment they would never forget.

After welcoming Elton John and his party to the hospital's Sinikithemba AIDS Care and Treatment Clinic with a selection of traditional songs, their performance ended with a personal invitation from the star to sing at the Elton John AIDS Foundation concert at his home in July.

"Your beautiful singing, your grace and passion, is absolutely thrilling," a clearly moved John told the 15-member choir, who are all open about their HIV status.

"Seeing you healthy and full of joy, leading normal lives again, is an inspiration to everyone. The world is a better place because of you."

He asked the choir to rehearse a special song for the occasion - "The Circle of Life" from the movie The Lion King - which he has promised to sing with them on stage that evening.

Within minutes of touching down at Durban International Airport on a private jet, John was whisked away to a number of functions related to the foundation's activities, including the McCord Hospital clinic.

Fresh from his charity white-tie and tiara concert in Cape Town, where the foundation raised R7 million for HIV/AIDS projects, there were no adoring fans to meet the star, no press cameras and no autograph hunters. Dressed in casual clothes, he emphasised that the visit to KwaZulu-Natal, one of the regions in the world the most affected by HIV/AIDS, was a time to "learn, listen and understand" the impact of the unfolding HIV/AIDS pandemic.

"Last year, at our annual fund-raising concert, we saw a documentary about orphaned children in Nkandla (a rural area in the heart of Zululand) and their suffering. It was deeply haunting".

"This year, we want to focus on hope and the courage and tenacity of people to overcome disease and despair. What I have seen and heard today has been wonderfully uplifting," he said.

During a tour of the Sinikithemba craft facility, John bought a selection of beaded necklaces for family and friends, and a dozen CDs of the choir.

Although this was a "strictly no limelight" visit, the star could not resist joining the choir on stage in a final impromptu number, clapping and cheering the choristers.

Choir leader Phumulani Kunene was close to tears: "We have sung for many famous people during our tours, like Bill Clinton, Michael Johnson and Mary Wilson of the Supremes, but we have never experienced anything like this. There is only one word for it - magic."

Before leaving the province, John, his partner David Furnish and executives from the foundation will visit homes in the Nkandla district, meeting affected families and children in the area.

Robert Key, the Executive Director of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, said that this particular segment of the trip was a "very private affair", and that John did not want it to be a media event.

"He is very concerned about the well-being of the children. That is his main focus," Key said. John and his group will also meet traditional healers from the newly-formed council during their Zululand tour.

Debbie Matthew, the Executive Director of the AIDS Foundation of South Africa, said that the Elton John AIDS Foundation had sponsored a number of projects over the past two years.

"Many of the projects are aimed at setting up facilities to care for orphans and vulnerable children. The efforts of Elton John and the foundation have been invaluable."

Over the past decade the foundation has raised R50 million for HIV/AIDS projects in South Africa.

As the star left, the choir bade him farewell with a traditional song entitled Wathinta Thina, which means in Zulu, "you have touched us". Choir member Ncamisile Yengwa said: "This is a good man. We can never forget him."