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EASTERN Cape-born singer Vuyiseka Makapela has defended her move to post her HIV status on twitter. Makapela emulated rapper K.O on Wednesday, posting a picture of a medical testing instrument showing a single black line signifying that she was HIV negative.

The 27-year-old insisted that she was not seeking attention but wanted to motivate young people to get tested.

Makapela cut her teeth in hip-hop, and now fuses poetry and dance music. Her single “Thethanani” currently enjoys much radio play.

She explained that as a musician she took the initiative because HIV/Aids was still a sensitive issue.

But her post received mixed reaction, with followers asking her whether she would have publicised her status had it been positive.

Makapela retorted that she would have gone public even if it was positive because she was passionate about the subject.

Makapela’s mother died of an Aids-related disease when she was 15. She became an activist only after she attended a UNAids event last year. – Sowetan.