Reality of spilling the beans

TELLING the world that you are HIV-positive gets you a pat on the back, but it is not always easy, says musician and socialite Koyo Bala .

The 34-year-old decided to disclosed his status about 18 months after he was diagnosed HIV-positive, which was around the same time as Lesego Motsepe in December 2011.

However, Bala said he believed it was a decision that cost him work.

"Production houses won't hire me anymore, when before they used to hire me all the time."

He said the number of jobs started dwindling after he revealed his status and cited an interview he had given to a magazine during which he declared that he was HIV-positive.

"I was close to signing a deal to star in a reality-TV show. Then the Drum cover came out where I disclosed my status, and the company immediately called to say that they won't be signing me any more as I was not what they were looking for any more."

Bala said the disclosure of his HIV status might have had something to do with the decision not to cast him, because it came after several promises that the deal was basically done.

But Bala has not allowed anything to get him down.

He is on antiretroviral treatment, which he calls his "smarties", and this has allowed him to lead a normal life.

"I won't be swayed by churches and other people - my medication is my pillar of strength," he said.