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SUFFERING: Mavis lives in misery because of her enlarged breasts.

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WE REJOICE with the Ekurhuleni woman who has had her abnormally grown breasts surgically reduced at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital.

Mavis - as Sowetan has chosen to call her to protect her identity - has told us how "blessed" she feels now that she can lead a normal life.

Mavis is a HIV-positive mom who developed ARV-related side effects leading to her overgrown breasts that hampered her mobility. She even had to quit her job as a result of this abnormality.

Now she says she has a reason to smile.

For us, Mavis's case is an example of the role that the media can and should play in both highlighting the plight of the disadvantaged and holding public officials accountable.

Her story is like those of many other ordinary South Africans who normally find themselves having to bear the brunt of arrogant and insensitive public officials - in whose hands their lives sometimes unfortunately lie.

The response by the Gauteng health officials to her plight is a case in point. Not only was she shunted around by these officials but she was - at some point - even told her condition is not life-threatening and therefore not a priority to receiving treatment.

Sowetan has also faced the wrath of Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, whose main concern was apparently that by disclosing Mavis's condition we could undermine the government's anti-Aids campaign.

The inference is that people could avoid finding out about their HIV status because if found to be HIV-positive they would then have to use the "dangerous" ARV's that have disfigured Mavis.

Our stance is that we did what we did to highlight her plight within the confines of the law and the professional ethics that bind us as a newspaper.

We also believe that had we not done what we did, Mavis would not have received the kind of treatment she eventually did.

It is also our belief that had we not intervened in the manner that we did chances are that Minister Motsoaledi would not have known about Mavis's case, and he would not have intervened in the manner that he did.

More so, we believe Mavis would not have received an apology from Gauteng Health MEC Ntombi Mekgwe for the ill-treatment she suffered at the hands of insensitive provincial health officials.

This is the context in which our coverage of Mavis's story should be seen and appreciated - as an example of excellent journalism.

Comments

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Tue May 21 14:40:03 SAST 2013 ::

Jun 28, 2012

tpaz

This was bad. Thank you to all people involved.

Cheap way to have a boobjob - take Stavudine.
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Jun 28, 2012

ncagumbuduma

Thank you Sowetan keep up the good work.
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Jun 28, 2012

zino

We also believe that had we not done what we did, Mavis would not have received the kind of treatment she eventually did.
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i personally congratulate u and this is a warning to other insensitive officials out there that if found in the wrong of such cases their jobs may be on the line.

people must understand that government can fire you if you dont deliver your duties unlike in the old days were people used to abuse their jobs and say "but they wont fire me"

that is in the past not now,not ever


me ,sowetan and the media community helping government beat the drum for service delivery.
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Jun 28, 2012

Pitbull123

This is a job well done to Sowetan please keep on doing the good work by exposing the dangers of ARV's and the bad treatment our people receive at the public hospitals.

This was the best reporting ever. We don't care what Minister Aaron Motswaledi is saying and actually coming t o think of it he should be thanking Sowetan.
Well done to Charlotte Maxeke Hospital for the speedy response after the expose'.
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Jun 28, 2012

sekhebereshe

put more white people in charge and u will see a black person working.....Dept of transport in midrand is the worst....
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Jun 28, 2012

Flemza

I still say guys use condoms I have been doing it for the last 20 years , and I`m healthy , no problem at all , condom is the witch doctor
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Jun 28, 2012

SebolaNtimetseAdikateMoketla

@Sowetan

This is panography

RESPECT THE WOMAN EVEN IF SHE IS POSITIVE!!!!
now that she has a problem her body doesnt belong to your journos

was it necessary to print a topless picture of hers?

you are disgusting im not impressed

and you dare remove this comment I will take it somewhere else!!!
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Jun 28, 2012

Secretary

Mavis I love you and your complection. You turn me on. If the breasts were not pain full I would appreciate the size and play with you
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Jun 28, 2012

Rakgadi-Tabeya

@Secretary - Playing with her boobs is all you can think of mara, ao please kutlwelo-botlhoko ya go e kae tlhe. This is serious not a laughing matter.
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Jun 28, 2012

Secretary

@Rakgadi-Tabeya
Rakgadi I feel sorry for her,but if the breast were not painfull I would play go beyong what you see in the picture. Mavis is appealing. You are selfish ugly lady hence you feel saddest when I take everything to the coffee colored girl(Mavis).EEeeeeeee nka modira
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