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Idols Interview: Tender Mavundla

Written by TVSA Team from the blog Interviews on 27 Nov 2007
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tenderLast night Idols hopeful Tender Mavundla was voted out of the Top 4 in the countdown to the Finale coming up on 9 December.

When I visited the Idols house recently I caught up with her to chat about her being HIV positive and find out how speaking about it during the show's impacted on her. Here's what she had to say:

*Idols music natch*

Tashi: You’ve chatted to a lot of press about being HIV positive during your Idols experience. What’s it been like talking about it?
Tender: Speaking about it’s a process of healing for me but I mean I’ve never done it with the press before. I’ve always done it with strangers - on the taxi, at the work - anybody that I come across I talk to - I talk about it all the time.

Tashi: For those who don't know - can you run us through when you discovered you had it.
Tender: Well I found out I was HIV positive in 2001 and ever since then I’ve just tried to make things as comfortable for myself and my family because there’s a stigma - there was a stigma - ‘cos now I don’t think there’s a stigma anymore because - and I say this a lot - every household in South Africa’s affected or infected by it. There’s no ways you’re gonna laugh at your neighbour, tomorrow it’s you. So the stigma part’s gone, forgotten really - as far as I’m concerned people need to get used to it ‘cos it’s not gonna change anytime soon.

Tashi: 2001’s a long time ago.
Tender: Ja - back in 2001 I was ignorant, I was in denial, I didn’t want to know about it, I didn’t want believe it was in me. I did bizarre things just to forget they told me that. I learned a lot from then, I had to learn the hard way, I had to get sick a couple of times - I was smoking, partying and things like that - it doesn’t help, it doesn’t let you forget, it doesn’t make it easier and it doesn’t take it away. You need to understand what’s inside your body so you can treat it right.

Tashi: When you found out? Where you feeling sick? What made you go for the test?
Tender: I had a very tight chest - I thought I was asthmatic or something - so when I went to the doctor he told me I had TB so when I was treated for it and he said, “Look it’s only safe to do the test.” I didn’t care what the test was - I didn’t know what he was talking about so I was like, “Go ahead, take the blood,” and when it came back it really hit me hard. I thought HIV was far away from us, I mean I heard about it on the news but I didn’t know anything about it.

Tashi: What's the physical impact been?
Tender: I used to model back in the day - I had a beautiful body but then I got shingles and scars that will never go away. Starting the medication I had side effects and most of them are like - your skin changes and becomes very problematic and your body’s full of liquids you get from the medication. Even if I get a mosquito bite it becomes a huge deal - those are the things you have to deal with.

Tashi: What does the future hold for you physically? What do the doctors say?
Tender: It’s a tough one for me right now because I’m in the last regiments of the pill - should something happen right now, like right now, this month I get sick, and they say I’m reacting to the pills that I’m on - there would be nothing else for me 'cos there's nothing else in South Africa but I never think about it like that because I’m very well - actually there’s been a debate going on in hospital about my blood.

I had a baby in May and they took my blood in June/July - in one month my viral load had gone from sky high to absolutely not there - it was like, it disappeared in my body, they can’t find it - so that’s a good thing.

Tashi: What does that mean?
Tender: That means that I’m fine - that I’m perfectly as fine as somebody who doesn’t have it at all.

Tashi: But you still have it obviously.
Tender: I do have it.

Tashi: And your baby?
Tender: My baby died nine days after birth - she was premature and she also started bleeding in the head and they couldn’t do anything for her.

Tashi: I'm sorry. Was she also?
Tender: No, I took Nevirapine.

Tashi: Do you think telling your story's going to impact on your chances in the competition in any way?
Tender: The only reason I came out with it is because I thought music isn’t the only thing I want to do now that I’ve lived this life. I want to be that voice for people - people don’t talk about these things, I do. I want those who don’t understand to try to understand what I’ve gone through and try to do the same things so they don’t make the same mistakes I made. So my coming out is a job - I’d love to just motivate people about it.

Tashi: Why did you enter the show?
Tender: I love music - it’s always been my life. I started singing professionally when I was 16 - I started singing in the church before that - I came to Jo’burg for the first time when I was 16 and I thought: "You know, this is my life.” I dropped out of school, I left everything for music. Music has always been my dream - I know I can do this - I just haven’t been given the chance to try. I’ve tried entering other competitions but they’ve never been for me - they’ve never been as big as Idols - so I thought “Let me try Idols, I might just win.”

Ends



52 Comments

sponono
27 Nov 2007 00:09

mmhhh very interesting Tashi...you ask very little  about the idols and her performance...just the AIDS issue.....OK   

Tashi: But you still have it obviously.
Tender: I do have it.

interesting indeed

good luck Tender in everythng else

Amazingly
27 Nov 2007 00:29

WOW!
Thanks for that Tashi and also Tender for sharing!
I was really sorry to see her leave last night. 
Clearly she has a fighting spirit though, so i know this is not the last we hear from her. 

GOOD LUCK TENDER

Zizikazi
27 Nov 2007 02:14

I second you sponono..........shift of focus is very interesting in this interview.

Mathaz
27 Nov 2007 03:11

If she was not positive, was she ever going to be interviewed by Tashi?

Mandlovu
27 Nov 2007 03:28

I really admire Tender for her courage, I was angry to see her leave last night but anyway the Idols thing was not for her it was maybe a step to something bigger and better for her. One thing's for sure though I'm never watching Idols again this season it really doesn't matter to me who wins because I don't have any favourite amongst the 3. Tender gal u r destined for greater things u will see.

Lahvee
27 Nov 2007 04:51

Hey y'all... Tender will be the next ZamaJobe... just watch the space, it wont be long until everyone knows who Tender Mavundla is. She probably has recording deals lined up... wish her all the best.

I read her story in a mag and I realised that there are people who've been through the worst but are still able to smile and be happy like her - A true inspiration. She should be the next HIV/AIDS spokesperson - and educate us the youth.

Go Tender!!!! You're are going to be big...

zo
27 Nov 2007 05:06

lahvee, where have you been? (taking me out of the closet)

Irene
27 Nov 2007 05:40

She should never have been voted out - I was very sad when she left as she has an amazing voice and personality. Good luck Tender, I wish you all of the best gal!

gaitsedi
27 Nov 2007 06:11

i wish Tender all the best in life,whatever  happens there's is alwys a reason,for her to be in Idols it was a blessing to other people lifes,when she talks about 2001 means that she is so strong

some of the things when they happen I just say it happen to me because IM strong n God knew that I can handle it

In the coming days n years TENDER you will be big my dear,because you think big,I cant say much about the singing  where Iam i cant watch it,You go girl......

Shirmell
27 Nov 2007 06:17

Tender having HIV didn't bother me in the least, I loved her for her singing talent and the fact that she's so full of life, very vibrant funky chick and I wish her all the best.

Thanks Tash and Tender for sharing the experience with us.

Raraz
27 Nov 2007 07:28

eish, I have a huge problem about this interview! what's that got to do with anyone? the idols is the music competion not the platform for you to ask personal and sensitive questions like those.  I personally feel that  this time you were way out of line! you never even asked about her future plans as a musician and all those music- related question, but your focus was on her status. why??? that's why mna I never takes the ngamlas seriously ke zizinto ezinjena! 

but you still have it obviously!  THAT IS NON OF YOUR DAMN BUSINESS!!!

wena do you know your status ngamlandini? 

nina why niwaphendula na lamangamla? yeses!!!

am so pissed off with this topic.

Raraz
27 Nov 2007 07:44

I wonder if she was a white person would you have done the same thing?
would you have gone there (idols house) to ask her about her status so that you can write about it? 

and your last question:

why did you enter the show?

what are you saying kahle, kahle??? ARE YOU ASKING THIS QUESTION BECAUSE OF HER STATUS OR WHAT? 
why would anyone enter a music competition???

Do you think telling your story's going to impact on your chances in the competition in any way? 

?????? what is this Tashi?

so wena uthi she was using the status to win the competition nhee???








masibanda
27 Nov 2007 08:03

tashi u are stupid am sorry to say every question was abt her status wena do u know yours????????????????and do u think she entered the competion bcoz of her status???????????? abanye abantu abakhuli enqondweni zabo.

maddie
27 Nov 2007 08:22

raraz and masibanda - i'm really disgusted about your comments.

it is comments like these that really makes my blood to boil. 

I don't understand why everything has to come to the race of a person.

I'm not going to say much, i'll end up saying things i regret, don't have the energy for it.

Amazingly
27 Nov 2007 08:29

Like Tender says, HIV is present everwhere. 
it's a known fact that people like to sweep it under the carpet and not speak about it - It's TABOO. Which doesnt get of rif of the problem.
Talking about HIV, it's physical effects etc educates people as to what to expect and this interview is a tribute to what you can achieve EVEN THOUGH you have HIV. 

Tender contributes alot of her time to making people aware of HIV. Have some of you not stopped to think that this IS EXACTLY the message that Tender wants heard. Sure, we can talk about her musical career becuase that is important too, but maybe there are things more important that need to be discussed. 

Toxic
27 Nov 2007 08:33

Masibanda, who the heck are you calling people names???

Firstly, Tender has had no problem disclosing her HIV status and if this is the angle Tashi chose to do the interview, then live with it. I don't see how race comes into this and why it should anyway!

Tender is more than happy to talk about her status, in fact it's the subject of most interviews she's done since the competition started. What is wrong with that if she choses to do it? If this interview highlights the "living positively with AIDS" issue, then it has done more than it seeked to and you guys must just live with it.

Where in the interview does Tashi imply that Tender entered because of her HIV status?????? At the very beginning, Tashi explained very clearly:

When I visited the Idols house recently I caught up with her to chat about her being HIV positive and find out how speaking about it during the show's impacted on her.

and that's the bottom line!

Cloud9
27 Nov 2007 08:37

Please refrain from personally attacking Tashi. Insulting or personally attacking bloggers or other posters is not allowed here at TVSA. Stick to debating the interview, please.

Mathaz
27 Nov 2007 08:41

There is no need to get all defensice and emotion line.  The fact of the matter is that her vocal abilities are not at all entertained in this article.  She is + so what?  What makes her different from any  - person.  It's funny how ones status becomes a defining factor in ones life.

Mathaz
27 Nov 2007 08:42

Meant to say:  There is no need to get all defensive and emotional.

lorrelai
27 Nov 2007 09:01

Raraz and Mathaz: I'm sure u guys could've been more polite, but still manage to firmly express your views. Attacking the Author like that is very cruel. Surely Tashi Tagg is clever enough to have grasped the message.

lorrelai
27 Nov 2007 09:08

I didn't watch this season of Idols, since M-NET so mercilessy pulled the plug on Open Time. But I did read an article about Tender on Babe Magazine/ or was it Glamour? can't remember but in any case, I hear she's very talented.  She comes out as very strong, I hope she succeeds in inspiring other women, young or old. Thanx Tashi.

Toxic
27 Nov 2007 09:19

fact of the matter is that her vocal abilities are not at all entertained in this article.

Mathaz, why should they??? Why should we read about how well she sings when we've watched and heard it for ourselves???? Frankly i'd rather hear about her life outside idols and her life as it is, is one of an HIV positive person wanting to spread the word.

so what
27 Nov 2007 09:43

TVSA  is no loger have good viewers or customers ,weeeee South african s we like to fight,AMEN n thye whole negative att is f***** boring,why cant we be positive,he e TENDER this,UYanda that ,dont you get tired

Positivity
27 Nov 2007 10:25

I think if this forum was about people living with HIV/Aids the article  would have been fine. Unfortunately it was not covering that. I really wanted to know how she felt about being voted out ... Anyways maybe somebody else might to a better job.

mumsy
27 Nov 2007 15:37

I loved you Tender, you have a great character on stage hope some1 has noticed!

mumsy
27 Nov 2007 15:37

I loved you Tender, you have a great character on stage hope some1 has noticed!

Brown Shuga
27 Nov 2007 16:02

Tashi, thank you for the interview. I notice that in your "opening statement" you mention that "I caught up with her to chat about her being HIV positive and find out how speaking about it during the show's impacted on her." 
I also notice that most of the people who have replied here chose to ignore that statement. 

I think the line of questioning was very relevant given the fact that we are all about HIV/AIDS awareness this week. Getting irritated with all the talk about HIV/AIDS is not gonna make your problems disappear SA. 
This is disease is a problem and we HAVE to TALK about it!!!!!!!!!!!! till y'all stop spreading it!

Tender was quite happy for the interview to be about her status so I don't see why everyone else has a problem with that?? 
There is this spirit of "entitlement" and "ownership" that I would like to cast out in the name of.........hehehehhe, just take it easy now dawgs, take it eazi!!!

<<I really wanted to know how she felt about being voted out ... >> The interview was done before she got voted out.

sweetie my baby
27 Nov 2007 22:30

 hi hi hi, come guys - take it easy! Tashi clearly spelled out what she was gonna do, but more importantly, if you EVER read ANY of Tashi's articles, you know she goes for the personal angles (just check out the Big Brother Africastuff she did) , this interview was NO different, and frankly, i thought it was a great insight into a realy strong woman!

your comments make it sound like there's some kind of shame around being HIV positive, to me, this interview really displayed Tender for the strong, forward thinking, positive woman she is - and i think Tashi treated her with great respect. 

<<I really wanted to know how she felt about being voted out ... >> The interview was done before she got voted out.  'NUFF SAID.

  let there be laaahv, (polite) debate and openness on tvsa...

Raraz
28 Nov 2007 01:11

@maddie - raraz and masibanda - i'm really disgusted about your comments.
ungandiqheli kakubi wena!


it is comments like these that really makes my blood to boil. 
it's fools like yourself that makes me naar, and makes me wanna "trumpet" right now and right here!

I don't understand why everything has to come to the race of a person. 
just because you are not an apartheid victim that is so why you just don't get it!
I still remain, if someone wants to speak out loud about his/her status, let him'/her do that when she wants to do so. yu need not to go out there and interview someone about her status only because you want to write a blog about that person. ayiphucukanga yonke loo nto leyo. even the opening statement sona kuqala asiphucukanga!!!

" When I visited the Idols house recently I caught up with her  to chat about her being HIV positive and find out how speaking about it during the show's impacted on her" 

zange ndayibona mna into enjena! andikhathali what you guys think of me, if umuntu orongo, urongo ke qha. be it admin, journalist, gold star..okusalayo urongo qha!

BS: Anne from Gen is leaving the soapie nhee, plz pay her a visit and I beg you not to focus on her leaving the show--- but on if she's he and a she. and on why singekazi simbone ejola yena ku Generations. ask shim if maybe this is the reason why shim leaving Gen. eish but ezi questions zam are about Gen mos...ask her some stupid question and plz come and tell us if shim didn't freak out.




zo
28 Nov 2007 01:56

people, its world aids day on the 1st of Dec, Tender chose to speak out about her status thus touching so many people. I dont think Tashi  and all her white crew beat her up so she can tell her abt her hiv status (apartheid victim). Tender says so herself thst she speaks to strangers about it.

the reason why HIV still spreads is people dont talk abt it. well done Tender and well done Tashi for the interview.

sponono
28 Nov 2007 02:12

Miz Brown--This is disease is a problem and we HAVE to TALK about it!!!!!!!!!!!! till y'all stop spreading it! .........( and who's y'all ..mmmhhhh  angazike uchazu'kthini uma uthi sifafaza iAids) while I agree with your statement...about talking about Aids...(and you have no idea how  close to my heart the issue is...and i wouldnt even want to go there..)   i also support Tender's decision to constantly talk about the issue obviously THAT works for her  and other people have their own ways of dealing withit...HOWEVER...when I saw this article intially I thought OBVIOUSLY the status issue will come up in every interview she does..but hopefully the focus will be more into her perfomance, future plans in music  and bacislly...I was hoping for Tash to "normalise" the situation...in my experience  (including working on Aids projects) I've found that the constant pressure and attention given to HIV positive peeps to "talk about it" and to answer a variety of question e.g how did you find out why, who what you gonna do" that ultimately has a negative impact on other HIV peeps who'd like to come out with the hope of being treated like normal people....while this works for Tender it might not work for the next potential Idols's contenstant... who could have been inspired by Tender...coz the first thing that comes to mind is "well easy for her..but this means I'll have to do a whole interview based on my Status"   thats all I was hoping for really...for someone who could approach Tender as she would approach someone with any chronic illness (thats the approach to HIV/Aids nowadays isnt it)  BUT then I guess I'm asking for too much...so I'm sorry to have prompted somewhat rude replies but i just felt the interview didnt reflect the way Aids is being delt with nowadays -regardless of whether SHE wanted to talk about or not.....

and wena Brown Suga that y'all spreading it statement  was a joke I hope

Dee
28 Nov 2007 02:41

I really admire Tender for her courage....you go gurl!!!!! you are an inspiration...........
My dear bloggers please let's stop exchanging harsh words, this won't get us any where. I'm sure there is always a polite and diplomatic  way of expressing our feelings when we don't agree rather than attacking each other.

Fingolfin
28 Nov 2007 03:08

 I'm sure Tender would have just refused to comment if the topic made her uncomfortable. Clearly she wanted to talk about it. Yikes.

sponono
28 Nov 2007 03:22

Fingolfin...OF COURSE she wanted to talk about it....but thats NOT the point.....the fact is that Tashi just decided mmmhhh i should just have an entire interview based on the status with very little of what brought this girl to our attention...and yes its a good thing to openly discuss Aids related issues..but i just thought the interviewer will not just look at tender adn be like "oh she said yes  so thats fine lets get on with the aids thing..so tell us about your status"  i just thought the interviewer will be more informed about the way Aids issues are dealt with nowadays and how such apporaches affect the very same people who are supposed to learn from them.   as for asking her WHY she entered the interview  haaikhona!!!

and the fact is Tender IS NOT a trained somebody on Aids or an expert...and the question of  "what does that mean" she cant even clearly define...so what are we to learn from that....and is it relevant whether her baby was HIV or not......CAN I SAY YIKES...YIKES !!!!!!!

OK I'LL LET IT REST  PHEW!!

zo
28 Nov 2007 04:16

now, I get your point sponono, you are so right. i had to re read the interview. you are also right that Tender is not a trained somebody on Aids eg she says the baby was not positive because she took nevirapine, and the baby died nine days later.

taking nevirapine does not automatically makes the baby negative, it reduces the chances of getting HIV from the mother by abt 60 %. the status of the baby can only be determined after 6 weeks by the thest called PCR.

sweetie my baby
28 Nov 2007 04:21

@ Raraz - you see the way Fingolfin & Spopo are talking? THAT is the way to debate on TVSA - with respect, listening to each other - NOT name calling and being dismissive.... 

anyway I still love your fiery attitude, nana p- phela you were on my side in  another debate, and i was lovin' the support - but remember, we're all people, and we shouldn't throw around insulting words...

big love!

sweetie my baby
28 Nov 2007 04:24

Masibanda - that's goes DOUBLY for you - name calling is just unnecessary and a reflection on yourself. BEHAVE! 

take a leaf out of my hubby, Sponono's book.... do things with class my dear, we don't have time or space for street fights mo TVSA mo...

Andy
28 Nov 2007 07:30

Oh sweet Tender.  What a shame to see you voted out.  Pure class.  IMHO you are not a Pop Idol.  You are much better than that and I am SO sure we will be hearing a lot from you in the not so distant future.

Thanks for the interview Tashi.  I was interested to read about her status and how it affects her day to day life as I have not read any other interview where she has talked about it before.  I was impressed with the courage she showed by being open about her status right from the beginning and the thought did cross my mind that coming out could work against her but it was impressive to see how far WE have come as citizens for it not to matter at all.  How heartbreaking for her to lose her baby and when I read that she had had a baby, the first thought that crossed my mind was wondering whether the child was infected and thanks to that question I did learn something new today.  I learnt that a pregnant mother can take something to reduce the risk of passing the desease onto her child.  Please don't shoot me down and call me names for my ignorance.  Thanks for asking the question Tashi.

I'm sure Tashi will keep us informed about what great things Tender will be doing in her career.

Chill people.  What some people find in an interview to be absolute rubbish, other people find riveting.  That's what makes our world interesting.  Think how boring it would be if we all agreed with one another.  Eish!

Brown Shuga
28 Nov 2007 11:36

LOL @ Sponono, okusalayo it is spreading...heheheheheh

Raraz
29 Nov 2007 01:21

I love you guys a lot yazi, ndiyanithanda nyhani.... 

eish wena SMB, you seem to know excactly how to calm me down.. thank you guys for the love and understanding... 

Tashi sthandwasa, am so sorry if I came too strong on you. that was not my intention at all. you know mos that uMarara loves you guys much nhee... let there be love shared amongst

Flo-Jo
29 Nov 2007 01:46

@BS...LOL @ Sponono, okusalayo it is spreading...heheheheheh

Not because we are not talking about it......

Raraz
29 Nov 2007 02:04

eish andiyazi lento indinikeza ama problems... ndibhala izinto ezingaphelele...

Dee
29 Nov 2007 02:09

Siyakuthanda nathi Raraz.....thanks for calming down and realizing your mistake, it takes a great person to do what you just did. Though I must admit that you cracked me up a bit on your comments, some of them were really funny!!! 
Much love

myname
29 Nov 2007 02:57

nam ndiyanithanda vha & Tender gud luck sisi

Brown Shuga
29 Nov 2007 13:04

@ Flojo -<<Not because we are not talking about it......>> Why do people get so emotional when we talk about it? Coz they feel guilty...

sweetie my baby
29 Nov 2007 15:12

hee hee - i'm glad i brought peace to your heart, Raraz my darli....

Tashi
29 Nov 2007 19:46

Hey Raraz thanks - no probs, at least TVSA's got passionate readers!

Positivity
03 Dec 2007 10:36

I still think the interview's focus was not really not for TVSA fans. The reason we  come hear is to have fun talking about our favourit programme. 
It's not like uTender was on an HIV/Aids show where she had to talk about her status. And she didn't decline because she's not ashamed to talk about it. This is idols we are talking about! A musical show... and Tashi you honestly didn't touch much on that. Personally I didn't enjoy the interview. Maybe you should write for the Treatment Action Campaign. I'm sure they appreciate your services.

Brown Shuga
03 Dec 2007 12:46

*Yawn*

lolaiza
20 Jan 2008 12:41

tender 

that's the best inspiration i've recieved all day
actually i have no words, but just to let u know u've made a mark on other's lives and may god bless u 

take care

dj miller
14 Jan 2009 13:56

tender that is the best choice you have eva made talking about your feeling and i am frm ps so i am supporting you all da way

tebzaza
11 May 2009 10:00

thanks for the interview,many people they are still scared to go for the test.i wish all the best dear God bless!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1


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