Towards the end of last week, bad rumours were emerging from the grapevine that the popular DJ Sbu was HIV positive. The rumour was apparently instigated by a hoax email that was posted on a local news site.
Well, DJ Sbu and his publicist have since swiftly dispelled the rumours through a detailed message that was sent to his TS Records group on Facebook. Below is an extract of this message:
'A hoax e-mail started doing rounds on Thursday night, February 21 which suggested that DJ Sbu, real name Sibusiso Leope is HIV positive. The nasty e-mail was posted on the News 24 website forum by an unknown person who calls himself/herself Mabebeza, and also Mxhosakazi. The message claims DJ Sbu is HIV positive and he confessed on his radio breakfast show on Ukhozi FM.
DJ Sbu has never spoken about his HIV status on Ukhozi FM where he presents Ezasek’seni Breakfast Show. Since the late kwaito singer Zombo declared his status that he was HIV positive, DJ Sbu was on the fore-front of assisting him financially. Together with Zombo’s former boss Arthur, DJ Sbu opened a trust account to make sure that Zombo was getting the best treatment before he succumbed to death last week Sunday, February 17, 2008.
DJ Sbu is saddened by the latest developments which are aimed at belittling his status. DJ Sbu says: “I’m saddened by these latest developments because I was in the forefront of helping the late Zombo. Our government is trying hard to de-stigmatise HIV/Aids and someone nasty is posting a message where they are trying to hurt me and my friends.
“Finance Minister Trevor Manuel and our government are taking the issue of HIV and Aids seriously – they even increased the Budget because they are serious about fighting the disease. It is people like these who are still on the drive of stigmatizing Aids who are making life difficult for those who suffer from the disease.” Health 24, which is a News 24 forum, is used for people who have the disease to encourage each other.
TS Records’ CEO Thembinkosi “TK” Nciza, who is also DJ Sbu’s business partner says: “People should stop abusing websites which are used to chat and people get an opportunity of discussing matters that affect us daily and turn them into personal attacks.”'
