Deputy President Paul Mashatile says the government plans to introduce lenacapavir next year, a twice-yearly injectable that promises long-acting protection against HIV.

Speaking on Monday in Ga-Masemola, Limpopo, during World Aids Day commemorations, Mashatile was joined by Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba and other officials.

“Every year, on December 1, we join the world to observe World Aids Day, not as a mere formality but as an opportunity to remember and strengthen our commitment to honouring lives lost,” he said.

Mashatile said this year’s commemoration emphasised the need to step up efforts to end Aids. 

He said South Africa’s theme, “Renewed Efforts and Sustainable Commitments to End Aids”, highlights the urgency of revitalising prevention and treatment strategies amid funding cuts and shifting global priorities.

The deputy president stated that South Africa had surpassed the first and third UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets; however, it still faced challenges in initiating and retaining patients on treatment. 

The country currently stands at 96-80-97, compared with global figures of 95-85-92.

To address what he described as the “stubborn” second 95 target, Mashatile highlighted the 1.1 million Close the Gap Treatment Acceleration Campaign, launched on 25 February 2025. 

The initiative aims to bring patients who have fallen out of care back into treatment.

“The 1.1 million gap represents mothers who stopped treatment because transport was too costly, men who walked away after negative clinic experiences, and young people who feared disclosure,” he said. 

“Its is a painful reminder that success in HIV is never permanent. It must be defended every single day.”

Mashatile called for strengthened multi-sectoral coordination, including door-to-door and district-level mobilisation, to re-engage people in care.

He emphasised the need for policies that address structural inequalities and stigma, particularly affecting women and girls, people who use drugs, sex workers and the LGBTQIA+ community.

Mashatile said three weeks ago, Motsoaledi launched the Six-Month Multi-Month Dispensing (6MMD) model in the Free State, enabling stable patients to collect a six-month supply of ARVs in one visit. 

The approach is expected to reduce clinic congestion, improve adherence, and support the achievement of the second 95 target.

Mashatile also highlighted progress and challenges in tackling tuberculosis. 

The WHO’s 2025 Global Tuberculosis Report shows TB remains the world’s deadliest infectious disease, claiming 1.23 million lives globally in 2024, including 54,000 in South Africa.

 Although South Africa has recorded a 61% reduction in TB incidence since 2015, he said much work remains.

He said the End TB Campaign, launched on March 24, 2025, aims to test 5 million people annually. So far, 1.8 million people – 62% of the target for April to September – have been reached. 

A new six-month regimen for multi-drug-resistant TB has achieved an unprecedented success rate of nearly 80%, while a shorter four-month treatment has been introduced for children.

Mashatile reflected on two decades of lifesaving antiretroviral therapy in South Africa, noting how ARVs transformed HIV from a fatal illness into a manageable condition, reducing mother-to-child transmission to below 2%.

He also referenced the recent G20 Leaders’ Summit, during which South Africa co-hosted the Global Fund’s 8th Replenishment Summit. 

The campaign aims to raise 18 billion US dollars for the 2027–2029 grant cycle, with 11.3 billion dollars pledged so far. 

South Africa contributed 36.6 million dollars through a public–private partnership and has previously received 2.3 billion dollars in Global Fund support.

On the future of HIV prevention, Mashatile said South Africa was on the brink of “a significant advancement” with lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable providing six months of protection per dose.

“Lenacapavir offers hope for young women who cannot negotiate condom use. It empowers adolescent girls, provides protection for key populations who face stigma, and supports individuals who struggle with daily pill adherence,” he said.

He said South Africa’s regulator, SAHPRA, is already prepared to authorise its use and is exploring local manufacturing options. 

“We cannot repeat the mistakes of the early ARV era, where lifesaving tools reached our shores too slowly,” Mashatile said.

He urged renewed commitment to accessibility, affordability and sustainability in HIV and TB responses.

“Let us confront stigma with courage, fund research, and ensure treatment reaches everyone. We must rise to this challenge, renewed, resilient and resolute,” he said.

IOL 

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