HIV positive woman dies after suing councillor for revealing her status

THE woman who accused a councillor of revealing her HIV status has died.

The 34-year-old from Belfast in Mpumalanga died on Monday night, just a month after she took Councillor Sonto Radebe to court for allegedly revealing her HIV status to party members at the ANC constituency office.

This was allegedly after party members had returned from a voter registration drive.

The case was supposed to be heard at the Belfast Small Claims Court on 23 June.

daily Sun reported that the dead woman claimed that Radebe first accused her of "gunning for her position" because she had been nominated by her branch to stand as a councillor.

Then she allegedly revealed that the dead woman had Aids.

Family friend Zodwa Masina said the woman has been depressed since the alleged incident on 4 March, and she believes this led to her death.

"Her health took a turn for the worst since her status was revealed for all to hear. She felt her whole world had come crumbling down. She died of heartbreak," said Zodwa.

Councillor Radebe said she would not comment on the matter as it is being handled by her attorneys.