Over 40,000 people packed the stadium and musicians repeatedly gave plugs for the 46664 campaign.

"Aids is nothing to be ashamed of," said Geldof, respected across the world for his 1985 fund-raising concert Live Aid, held in aid of Ethiopia. "It's just another medical condition. But if the condition is medical, the situation is political. And that's what we're here to reinforce today."

"I was imprisioned on Robben Island where I was supposed to be reduced to that number," Mandela said of the number 46664. "People with HIV are in danger of being reduced to numbers unless we act. They too are serving a prison scentence."

The NMF, British company Music Matrix and British entrepreneur Richard Branson came up with the plan for the campaign. This came after Mandela said that Dave Stewart of Eurythmics fame could use Mandela's Robben Island number in a song.

On Friday, President Thabo Mbeki said in a statement that the concert would provide a valuable focus for the campaign against HIV/Aids. " The selfless action of the musicians in giving of their time free of charge is greatly appricated."

The concert was broadcast free on the internet in over 15 countries. It was also shown on BBC1 and MTV online. It will be released later on CD and DVD.

By Jo-Anne Smetherham

Cape Times

Monday December 1, 2003