Zackie Achmat (born Abdurazzack Achmat in 1962) is a South African activist, most widely known as founder and chairman of the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) and for his work on the behalf of people living with HIV and AIDS in South Africa.
Achmat was born and grew up in the so-called "Coloured" community in Johannesburg during apartheid, in a Cape Malay Muslim family (though his father was technically of Indian extraction, tracing his roots to G...
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Zackie Achmat (born Abdurazzack Achmat in 1962) is a South African activist, most widely known as founder and chairman of the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) and for his work on the behalf of people living with HIV and AIDS in South Africa.
Achmat was born and grew up in the so-called "Coloured" community in Johannesburg during apartheid, in a Cape Malay Muslim family (though his father was technically of Indian extraction, tracing his roots to Gujarat). At the age of 14, he set fire to his school during the period of the Soweto Uprising to force his fellow students to boycott classes. He was arrested and tried in each of the years between 1976 and 1980.
A TAC Newsletter dated March 28, 2005 reported that Achmat suffered a heart attack four days earlier, but that he was recovering well and would take time off before returning to his work. He has since resumed his work as an activist.
The TAC which was founded by Achmat, has become the most well-known and successful AIDS activist group...
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