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Mandela: Wait with sex
11/07/2005 13:31 - (SA)
Johannesburg - People should use condoms and not have sex too young, said former president Nelson Mandela on Monday.
"Aids has spread because people have so many partners. People should use condoms and try to resist being with a partner until about 18 or 19 years old," Mandela said in Johannesburg on Monday morning.
Mandela was speaking at the Nelson Mandela Foundation where he was introducing four new 46664 ambassadors.
Musicians Vusi Mahlasela and Dozi, actress Kim Engelbrecht and Morning Live presenter Leanne Manas have agreed to be part of the 46664 campaign which is the foundation's global HIV/Aids awareness and fund-raising drive.
"I hope we will be able to spread the message against HIV/Aids together," said Mandela.
The new ambassadors said they would use the opportunity to spread Mandela's message.
"It's a great honour to be part of the campaign. It's going to take a lot to do justice to this call, but I'm looking forward to it," said Mahlasela.
Engelbrecht said she was now aware of the reason for her celebrity status.
"I can use my popularity in the right manner and spread Madiba's message. "We need to see HIV as a disease like a common cold. "We need to listen to the message and take a minute in the heat of the moment to use a condom."
Both Dozi and Manas said they would use their popularity to educate and inform people, especially, children, about HIV/Aids.
Mandela said he was grateful that the four new ambassadors would join him in the fight against Aids.
He added that he knew some people had beautiful and attractive partners, but that was no reason to be careless because a disease was still a disease and anyone could have it.
"People should in fact delay having sex until they are about 21-years-old and then use contraceptives when they do," said Mandela.
He said he would continue to stress the need for the use of condoms although some religious groups do not want the foundation to encourage the use.
The announcement of the four new ambassadors forms part of Madiba's 87th birthday celebrations taking place throughout this month.
Dozi, Engelbrecht, Mahlasela and Manas join Will Smith, Beyonce, Ronaldo, Mandoza, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Annie Lennox, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Youssou N'Dour and Amitabh Bachchan who have already been appointed as 46664 ambassadors.
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