Diagnosed as HIV positive in 1998, Nozipho Bhengu underwent treatment using antiretroviral drugs until 2001.
At that point she was persuaded by health minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang and nutritionalist Tine van der Maas that standard pharmaceutical drugs have dangerous side effects and it would be more beneficial to her condition to try a controversial lemon and garlic diet.
The health minister was quoted in saying "I do not know of any side effects of eating proper food".
After the speech Nozipho Bhengu's efforts to treat her illness became common knowledge in South Africa.
At the time of her death she was working on a book, From Victim to Victor, which detailed her experience that was left unfinished.