Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is part of a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart.

Early afternoon Thandiwe’s children are at home. Her husband died of AIDS in 2006, she herself is now in the final stage of her disease. A stroke made her even less mobile and working for money is not possible anymore. Sending her children to school is too expensive. When pregnant with her last child, she neglected to go to the maternity hospital so Senamile (8) was infected as well.  The government does not provide ARV therapy for children that young and Senamile will most probably never turn ten. Her uncle keeps an eye on her and does the basic household chores.