Zackie Achmat Explained

Zackie Achmat
Birth Date:1962 3, df=yes
Birth Place:Vrededorp, Johannesburg, South Africa
Alma Mater:University of the Western Cape
Nationality:South African
Occupation:Activist, film director
Employer:Ndifuna Ukwazi (Dare to Know)
Boards:Ndifuna Ukwazi (Dare to Know)
Equal Education
Known For:HIV/AIDS activism
Party:Independent
Spouse:Dalli Weyers (m. 2008; div. 2011)
Parents:Suleiman Achmat and Mymoena Adams
Relatives:Taghmeda "Midi" Achmat (sister)

Abdurrazack "Zackie" Achmat (born 21 March 1962) is a South African activist and film director.[1] [2] [3] He is a co-founder the Treatment Action Campaign and known worldwide for his activism on behalf of people living with HIV and AIDS in South Africa. He currently serves as board member and co-director of Ndifuna Ukwazi (Dare to Know),[4] an organisation which aims to build and support social justice organisations and leaders, and is the chairperson of Equal Education.[5] [6]

Early life and education

Achmat was born in the Johannesburg suburb of Vrededorp to a Muslim Cape Malay family and grew up in the Cape Coloured community in Salt River during apartheid.[7] He was raised by his mother and his aunt who were both shop stewards for the Garment Workers Union.[3] [2]

He did not matriculate but nevertheless graduated with a BA Hons degree in English literature from the University of the Western Cape in 1992 and studied filmmaking at the Cape Town Film School.[1] [3] [2]

Political activism

Achmat set fire to his school in Salt River in support of the 1976 student protests and was imprisoned several times during his youth for political activities.[8] He joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1980 while serving time in prison.[9] Between 1985 and 1990 he was a member of the Marxist Workers Tendency of the ANC,[2] [3] a Trotskyist breakaway group of the ANC and precursor to the Democratic Socialist Movement.[10]

Achmat describes his political ideology as democratic socialist since the unbanning of the ANC in 1990.[9] [3] Despite being a member of the ANC, he vigorously opposed the HIV/AIDS denialism promoted by former President Thabo Mbeki and other senior ANC members and in 2004 he withdrew his ANC membership under Mbeki's leadership. In 2006, Achmat called on fellow party members to formulate appropriate HIV policies and oust Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang.[1] [11] [12] He has also been outspoken in his criticism of President Jacob Zuma and ANC corruption.[9] [13] [14]

Achmat stood as an independent for national parliament on the Western Cape regional list in the 2024 South African general election.[15] Achmat received 10679 votes, which does not reach the minimum threshold required to gain a seat in the National Assembly. He conceded defeat and vowed to continue politics by contesting in the 2026 local elections.[16]

LGBT rights activism

Achmat co-founded the National Coalition for Gay and Lesbian Equality in 1994, and as its director he ensured protections for gays and lesbians in the new South African Constitution, and facilitated the prosecution of cases that led to the decriminalisation of sodomy and granting of equal status to same-sex partners in the immigration process.[2] [3] [7] [17] [18] Achmat wrote a much-cited article about sexuality in South African prisons, based on his personal experiences.[19]

HIV/AIDS activism

See main article: Treatment Action Campaign. Before co-founding the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) in 1998,[20] Achmat was a director of the AIDS Law Project based out of the University of the Witwatersrand, which is now headed by Achmat's longtime collaborator Mark Heywood. The AIDS Law Project and TAC work closely together in all the legal matters that arise in the course of advocating for the right to health, including prosecuting cases and defending TAC volunteers.[3]

Solidarity with people living with HIV and AIDS in South Africa

Achmat publicly announced his HIV-positive status in 1998 and stated that he was refusing to take antiretroviral drugs until all who needed them had access to them.[1] [7] [21] He began taking antiretrovirals in August 2003 when a national congress of TAC activists voted to urge him to begin antiretroviral treatment. He finally announced that he would start treatment shortly before the government announced that it would make antiretrovirals available in the public sector.[22] Achmat's motives have never been independently established and he does not mention this incident in affidavits that he has submitted on public interest matters containing his life history.[23]

Westville Prison incident

Achmat was one of 44 TAC activists arrested in 2006 for occupying provincial government offices in Cape Town as a protest in order to call for Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang and Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour to be charged with culpable homicide for the death of an HIV-positive inmate at Westville Prison in Durban. The protesters were charged with trespassing and ordered to appear before court. The inmate was one of 15 prisoners who were plaintiffs in a case against the Departments of Health and Correctional Services, suing to be provided access to antiretroviral drugs. The court ordered the government to provide the drugs immediately.[20] [24]

Social justice activism

In 2008, Achmat co-founded the Social Justice Coalition (SJC), an organisation with the aim of promoting the rights enshrined in South Africa's Constitution, particularly among poor and unemployed people living in the country. In 2009 he co-founded the Centre for Law and Social Justice, subsequently renamed Ndifuna Ukwazi (Dare to Know), with Gavin Silber.[25] [26]

In 2013, Achmat and 18 other SJC activists were arrested for an illegal gathering outside the Cape Town Civic Centre, where they were protesting about sanitation services in the township of Khayelitsha.[27]

Allegations of sexual harassment cover up

In 2018, Achmat was accused of intimidating women against speaking about sexual harassment while he was the chair of the board of Equal Education, specifically regarding allegations against Doron Isaacs.[28] Achmat has denied the claims,[29] while also publicly defending Isaacs, stating that he does not believe Isaacs is a sexual predator. Achmat denied threatening complainants but admitted that he had "spoken firmly to people who have spread rumours or allegations of sexual or other misconduct without evidence as fact or faith".[30] Achmat has also boasted about being feared by people in South African civil society.[31] In the same radio interview Achmat claimed that he had heard rumours that his interviewer had stolen money and suggested that one of Isaacs' accusers was not credible because she had been gang-raped as a volunteer.[32]

Achmat joined calls for a public inquiry into Equal Education's handling of allegations of sexual misconduct in the organisation.[33] Equal Education[34] appointed retired judge Kathleen Satchwell to head an inquiry into the allegations. The Satchwell inquiry found that the allegations against Achmat and Isaacs were baseless.[35] [36] [37] [38] Judge Satchwell likened the accusations to the "gutter journalism" of the Apartheid era in which "untested propaganda could rule the roost”.[39]

However, one member of Satchwell's three person inquiry, former United Nations' Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women Rashida Manjoo, dissented on the basis that she wished to take into considerations the anonymous allegations that were rejected by Satchwell. There was a total of 19 anonymous submissions through the Women's Legal Centre that were rejected by the commission.[40]

In 2020 Achmat became a director of Karoo Biosciences, which was a company established by Doron Isaacs.[41]

Personal life

Achmat was diagnosed HIV-positive in 1990.[1] [3] [42] [43] In 2005 he had a heart attack, which his doctor said was unlikely to be caused by his HIV-positive status or treatment. He recovered sufficiently to return to his activism work.[44]

On 5 January 2008, Achmat married his partner and fellow activist Dalli Weyers at a ceremony in the Cape Town suburb of Lakeside. The ceremony was attended by then Mayor Helen Zille and presided over by his close friend Supreme Court of Appeal judge Edwin Cameron.[45] [46] The couple divorced amicably in June 2011.[47]

Media

Filmography

Directing

Acting (as himself)

Recognition and awards

Notes and References

  1. News: Thompson. Ginger. In Grip of AIDS, South African Cries for Equity. 28 December 2013. The New York Times. 10 May 2003.
  2. Book: Mbali, Mandisa. Emmanuel Kwaku Akyeampong. Henry Louis Gates, Jr.. Achmat, Abdurrazack. Dictionary of African Biography, Volumes 1–6. 2012. Oxford University Press. Oxford. 9780195382075. 83–85. https://books.google.com/books?id=39JMAgAAQBAJ.
  3. Web site: Witness Statement of Abdurrazack Achmat. July 2008. The Guardian. 29 December 2013.
  4. Web site: Staff. Ndifuna Ukwazi (Dare to Know). 29 December 2013. 7 January 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140107131447/http://nu.org.za/about-us/staff-6/. dead.
  5. Web site: Equal Education Board. Equal Education. 29 December 2013. 30 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160330170542/http://www.equaleducation.org.za/page/equal-education-board. dead.
  6. Encyclopedia: Reid . Graeme . Gerstner . David A. . Zackie Achmat . Routledge International Encyclopedia of Queer Culture . 1 . 2 . . English . 2006 . 9780415306515 . 2022-06-12.
  7. Book: Davis, Ken. Who's Who in Contemporary Gay and Lesbian History Vol.2: From World War II to the Present Day. 2000. Routledge. London. 9780203994085. 4. Robert Aldrich. Garry Wotherspoon.
  8. News: Goldacre. Ben. No way to treat an Aids hero. 27 December 2013. The Guardian. 20 January 2007.
  9. News: Nicholson. Zara. JZ goes or I do – Zackie Achmat. 27 December 2013. Cape Times. 23 November 2012.
  10. Book: Thomas, Scott. The Diplomacy of Liberation: The Foreign Relations of the African National Congress since 1960. 1996. Tauris Academic Studies. London. 9781850439936. 62–63. General coverage of the MWT.
  11. Web site: Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Interview With Zackie Achmat, South African AIDS Activist. 12 July 2004. TheBody.com. Remedy Health Media. 28 December 2013.
  12. News: Ismail. Sumayya. Zackie Achmat on the future. 30 December 2013. Mail & Guardian. 30 November 2006.
  13. News: Nicholson. Zara. Mangaung a victory for corrupt – Achmat. 30 December 2013. Cape Times. 19 December 2012.
  14. News: Mlandu. Lindiwe. Achmat: Impeach and prosecute Zuma. 27 December 2013. Eyewitness News. 2 December 2013.
  15. Web site: O’Regan . Victoria . 2024-04-02 . The Independents (Part 2): Veteran SA activist Zackie Achmat blazes a trail . 2024-04-02 . Daily Maverick . en.
  16. Web site: Dentlinger . Lindsay . Independent candidate Zackie Achmat makes peace with poll failure, fears ANC coalition with EFF, MK . 4 June 2024 . . en . 5 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240605184439/https://www.ewn.co.za/2024/06/04/independent-candidate-zackie-achmat-makes-peace-with-poll-failure-fears-anc-coalition-with-eff-mk.
  17. Book: Hoad, Neville Wallace. Martin, Karen. Reid, Graeme. Sex and Politics in South Africa. 2005. Double Storey. Cape Town. 9781770130159. 8.
  18. Power. Samantha. Letter from South Africa: The AIDS Rebel. The New Yorker. 19 May 2003. 54. 28 December 2013.
  19. Achmat. Zackie. 1993-12-01. "Apostles of civilised vice": 'Immoral practices' and 'unnatural vice' in South African prisons and compounds, 1890–1920. Social Dynamics. 19. 2. 92–110. 10.1080/02533959308458553. 0253-3952.
  20. News: McGreal. Chris. Zackie Achmat: Profile. 29 December 2013. The Guardian. 12 September 2008.
  21. News: Karon. Tony. Person of the Week – South African AIDS Activist Zackie Achmat. 28 December 2013. TIME. 19 April 2001.
  22. Web site: Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. First National South African AIDS Conference Opens Amid Anger Over Government Decisions on Providing HIV Drugs. 4 August 2003. TheBody.com. Remedy Health Media. 28 December 2013.
  23. Web site: Achmat . Zackie . 16 April 2023 . Affidavit . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230416171131/https://dc.sourceafrica.net/documents/15168-42-b-zackie-achmat-affidavit.html . 16 April 2023 . 16 April 2023 . SourceAfrica.
  24. News: Maclennan. Ben. TAC members arrested after protest. 28 December 2013. IOL. 18 August 2006.
  25. Book: Mbali, Mandisa. South African AIDS Activism and Global Health Politics. 2013. Palgrave Macmillan. 9781137258540.
  26. Web site: 200 Young South Africans 2013 – Gavin Silber. Mail & Guardian. 29 December 2013. 30 December 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131230232839/http://ysa2013.mg.co.za/gavin-silber/. dead.
  27. News: TAC's Zackie Achmat arrested in Cape Town. 29 December 2013. News24. 12 September 2013.
  28. Web site: Akoob . Allison . Collison . Rumana . Simon . Carl . NGO's sexual harassment woes grow . Mail & Guardian . 18 May 2018 . 13 July 2018.
  29. Web site: Zulu . Sifiso . ZACKIE ACHMAT DOESN'T BELIEVE DORON ISAACS IS A SEXUAL PREDATOR . Eyewitness News . Primedia . 13 July 2018.
  30. Web site: Achmat . Zackie . 18 May 2018 . Dear Friends, below is a response to allegations that I covered-up sexual misconduct... . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230416164147/https://www.facebook.com/zackie.achmat/posts/10155492157227267 . 16 April 2023 . 16 April 2023 . Facebook.
  31. Web site: Zondi . Nolwandle . 23 May 2018 . Zackie Achmat Doesn't Get Reverse Onus . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180523180410/https://www.thedailyvox.co.za/zackie-achmat-doesnt-get-reverse-onus-nolwandle-zondi/ . 23 May 2018 . 16 April 2023 . DailyVox . "many people fear me for good reason".
  32. Web site: 23 May 2018 . Zackie Achmat gets candid about Equal Education scandal . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180526122005/https://www.702.co.za/articles/304731/listen-zackie-achmat-gets-candid-about-equal-education-scandal . 26 May 2018 . 16 April 2023 . 702.
  33. Web site: Zulu . Sifiso . Zackie Achmat Wants Inquiry into Equal Education's Handling of Sex Abuse Claims . Eyewitness News . Primedia . 13 July 2018.
  34. Web site: Doron Isaacs inquiry: Panel to probe sexual harassment claims named . Independent Online . 13 July 2018.
  35. Web site: Investigation clears Equal Education co-founder and prominent activist of sexual misconduct and cover-up. 2018-11-28. News24. en. 2019-05-03.
  36. Web site: Maphanga . Canny . Investigation clears Equal Education co-founder and prominent activist of sexual misconduct and cover-up . 2023-06-26 . News24 . en-US.
  37. Web site: 2018-11-29 . Independent inquiry clears former Equal Education leaders . 2023-06-26 . The Mail & Guardian . en-ZA.
  38. Web site: Brandt . Kevin . Sexual allegations against former EE members have no merit, report finds . 2023-06-26 . ewn.co.za . en.
  39. Web site: Doron Isaacs exonerated - EE Panel of Inquiry - DOCUMENTS Politicsweb . 2023-06-26 . www.politicsweb.co.za . en.
  40. Web site: A SUMMARY OF THE REPORT OF THE EQUAL EDUCATION APPOINTED PANEL OF ENQUIRY TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST DORON ISAACS AND OTHERS AND REVIEW THE PROCEEDINGS AND OUTCOME OF THE EQUAL EDUCATION HUMAN RESOURCES SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING OF 2011. 2023-08-26.
  41. Web site: 16 April 2023 . Frequently Asked Questions . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230416165853/https://www.karoobioscience.com/faq . 16 April 2023 . 16 April 2023 . Karoo Bioscience.
  42. Book: Gill, Peter. Body Count: How they turned AIDS into a catastrophe. 2010. Profile Books. London. 9781847651082.
  43. News: Brummer. Willemien. Zackie Achmat: Alive and well. 29 December 2013. Die Burger. 1 December 2004.
  44. Web site: Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Treatment Action Campaign Chair Zackie Achmat's Doctor Says Heart Attack Not Caused by Antiretroviral Medication. 29 March 2005. The Body.com. Remedy Health Media. 29 March 2013.
  45. News: Zackie Achmat marries partner. 6 January 2008. News24. 29 March 2013.
  46. News: Dugger . Celia . 23 January 2009 . In South Africa, a Justice Delayed Is No Longer Denied . New York Times . live . 16 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230416170501/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/24/world/africa/24cameron.html . 16 April 2023.
  47. News: Huisman. Biénne. Makwabe. Buyekezwa. Zackie's same-sex divorce. Times LIVE. 12 June 2011. 29 March 2013.
  48. Book: Nolen, Stephanie. 28: Stories of AIDS in Africa. 2007. Walker & Co.. New York. 9780802715982.
  49. Web site: Fig Trees: a video opera. Oakville galleries. 29 December 2013. 30 December 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131230235201/http://www.oakvillegalleries.com/249.htm. dead.
  50. Web site: Fire in the Blood – The Contributors. 28 December 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20181017001756/https://fireintheblood.com/the-contributors. 17 October 2018. dead.
  51. News: Deane. Nawaal. Will SABC screen doccie?. 2 January 2014. Mail & Guardian. 11 February 2005.
  52. Web site: Law and Freedom part 1 – Who was Mrs Komani?. BeatIt.co.za. 2 January 2014. 2 January 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140102200142/http://www.beatit.co.za/archive-documentaries/law-and-freedom-part-1-who-was-mrs-komani. dead.
  53. Web site: Law and Freedom part 2 – A nice country. BeatIt.co.za. 2 January 2014. 2 January 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140102195917/http://www.beatit.co.za/archive-documentaries/law-and-freedom-part-2-a-nice-country. dead.
  54. News: Zackie Achmat gets international award. 29 December 2013. Mail & Guardian. 29 May 2003.
  55. Web site: Homo Homini Award. People in Need. 28 December 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20161022011644/https://www.clovekvtisni.cz/en/human-rights/info/homo-homini-award. 22 October 2016. dead.
  56. Web site: National Press Club nominates Zackie Achmat and TAC as Newsmakers for 2003. Bizcommunity.com. 1 January 2014. 15 February 2004.
  57. Web site: Zackie Achmat. Ashoka. 1 January 2014.
  58. News: Hawthorne. Peter. Dying To Get Aids Drugs To All. 28 December 2013. TIME. 20 April 2003.
  59. News: Morrison. James. Achmat's struggle takes him into world spotlight. 29 December 2013. IOL. 22 April 2003.
  60. Web site: The 10 Greatest South Africans of all time. Bizcommunity.com. 27 September 2004. 1 January 2014.
  61. News: Achmat nominated for Nobel Peace Prize. 1 January 2014. Mail & Guardian. 2 December 2003.
  62. Web site: Zackie Achmat. OSF. 2 January 2014.
  63. Web site: Marx. Fritz. Cape Town honours Zackie Achmat and others. 28 April 2011. Politicsweb. 29 December 2013.
  64. Web site: Zackie Achmat. City of Cape Town. 29 December 2013. 30 December 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131230232636/http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/mayor/Pages/Zackie-Achmat.aspx. dead.

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