Nozibele Mayaba (born 20 November 1990) is a South African author, HIV activist, podcaster, speaker, and TV host. She is best known for creating awareness of HIV.
The HIV awareness activist presents the show “Yes I Have HIV” on Honey TV. She has also written several books, including I Am Still Me in 2020. She has hosted several video podcasts, including Don’t Hold Back.
| Nozibele Mayaba | |
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| Quick Facts | |
| Name: | Nozibele Qamngana-Mayaba |
| Born: | 20 November 1990 (age 35 years old) |
| Place of birth: | Gqeberha, Eastern Cape |
| Nationality: | South African |
| Education: | Development Studies Marketing |
| Occupation: | Author, HIV activist, podcaster, speaker, TV host |
| Spouse: | Sikhumbuzo Mayaba (m. 2019) |
| Children: | 1 |
| Books: | Positively Me: Daring to Live and Love Beyond HIV |
Early Life
Nozibele Qamngana-Mayaba was born on 20 November 1990 in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, South Africa. She is the second of two children raised by a single mother. She has a brother.
Education
Mayaba passed her matric exams at the age of 16. She holds a BA Honours Degree in Development Studies, a National Diploma in Marketing, and a Bachelor of Technology in Marketing.
Career
Nozi started presenting the television show ‘Yes I Have HIV‘ on Honey TV. She launched her book, “I Am Still Me,” which has sold many copies since its release in April 2020. She published another book in 2021, which focuses on disclosing the virus to children in the simplest way.
Mayaba has collaborated with brands and has also built her own brand. She has worked with top brands, including CeraVe, Lufi-D, Octa, and Takealot. She created a YouTube Channel based on her life living with HIV.
In January 2020, Feedspot named her channel as one of the Top 15 HIV YouTube Channels on the web.
She has received several accolades, such as the Nelson Mandela Business Chamber Top 40 under 40 achiever recognition, a Fruits of Democracy Award winner (civil society), the Businesswoman Association of South Africa Regional Achievers Award, a Vision4Women “Beyond the Balance Sheet” award finalist, and South African International Youth Committee ambassador.
In August 2025, she spoke at the VW South Africa Women’s Conference on the theme, “I’m Every Woman.”
Personal Life
Nozibele Mayaba got married to Sikhumbuzo Mayaba in April 2019. She met him in 2016. They celebrated their first wedding anniversary in 2020 and welcomed their son, Lumingonaphakade Isaiah Mayaba, in 2023.
Mayaba first discovered she had HIV in August 2013, when she was 22 years old. She hid her status from her family for about six years and started receiving treatment in 2017.
References
- “Don’t Hold Back: Say it loud!“. Apple Podcasts.
- Mzwandile Mamaila. “HIV activist Nozibele Mayaba speaks about her new book“. True Love.
- Mihlali Vellem. “‘Our baby boy has arrived’: HIV activist Nozibele Mayaba gives birth“. The South African.
- Andiswa Ngenyane. “Motherhood is no child’s play for HIV activist Nozibele“. Daily Sun.
- Lineo Lesemane. “PICS: Nozi and Skhu Mayaba welcome their first baby“. The Citizen.
- “Meet Nozibele Qamngana, who was diagnosed with HIV in 2013“. Brand South Africa.
- Lineo Leteba. “Nozibele Qamngana-Mayaba on living with HIV – ‘Chin up, everything will be okay’“. TrueLove.
- Ntsoaki Mokete. “Woman opens up about living with HIV: ‘I’d swallow three or four pills so I could sleep’“. News24.
