Discusses the AIDS epidemic in one mining community in South Africa. Attention is given to the social construction of sexuality by migrant mineworkers, commercial sex workers and young people in the small South African community of Summertown, all of whom in different ways, live in situations that place them at high risk of HIV infection. Provides information on some of the problems and challenges that are facing HIV-prevention programmes. Examines a detailed study of Summertown Project, a project that worked to limit the spread of HIV among the three mentioned groups.