Meanings of Death and Dying in the era of AIDS in Soweto

South Africa has one of the highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the world and now AIDS is the leading cause of death. It is a country with a young democracy and emerging from a history of a violent and racist institutionlised system of apartheid. How this affects the rites rituals and grieving processes of its citizens is explored in this qualitative research. It documents the needs of people with HIV/AIDS in terms palliative care. The research findings present a challenge to health care providers to review current thinking when dealing with issues around dying and living with HIV/AIDS in the early 2000's in South Africa.