Nomsa, the domestic servant, was infected by a customary scarification ritual in which the Sangoma (witch doctor) used the same razor blade on an number of people without sterilising it Nomsa's husband died of TB that was probably AIDS related. She only found out about her HIV status two years after the death of her husband when ahe applied for life insurance and had to be tested as part of the routine contract. Nomsa wabted to get a bond in order to buy a house and she needed a life insurance as surety.