SANAC Welcomes Incoming SANAC Chairperson, Deputy President Paul Mashatile and Bids Farewell to Former Chairperson Deputy President David Mabuza
-Nelson Dlamini
The South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) welcomes South Africa’s new Deputy President, His Excellency Paul Mashatile who, by virtue of that role, also assumes his duties as the Chairperson of SANAC.
The Deputy President’s appointment came at an opportune time when the Council was preparing for the official launch of the new National Strategic Plan (NSP) for HIV, TB and STIs for the period 2023-2028. The incumbent Chairperson is expected to provide high-level stewardship to the multisectoral structure of SANAC which coordinates and guides the implementation of the NSP.
Commenting on his appointment, the SANAC Co-Chairperson Ms. Steve Letsike said, “SANAC has consistently driven critical epidemiology approaches to deal with public health threats including the recent COVID-19 pandemic. The new Chairperson comes at an opportune time to drive the implementation of the new NSP from inception. He will co-lead this work alongside myself and my colleague Mpumi Zikalala who chairs the SANAC Private Sector Forum (PSF). He will indeed hit the ground running; however, we pledge our full support and wish him well in his new role,” she said.
The PSF Chairperson Ms. Nompumelelo Zikalala echoed Letsike’s sentiments, “The new Chairperson will be pleased to know that SANAC is a well-oiled machine. With the launch and formalisation of the PSF in 2021, the Council is now a fully constituted multisectoral structure that is well-poised to successfully coordinate the implementation of the new NSP”.
Farewell to Outgoing Chairperson, Former Deputy President David Mabuza
SANAC also bids farewell to the former Chairperson who led various initiatives to improve the country’s response to HIV, TB and STIs during his tenure. Key among them being the countrywide dialogues with Traditional Leaders, Interfaith Leaders, and Traditional Health Practitioners. The Deputy President recognised the critical role to be played by such leaders due to the enormous influence they wield in their constituencies.
In 2021, the Deputy President led the South African Delegation to the United Nations High-Level Meeting on AIDS and TB where he addressed the UN General Assembly on the country’s progress towards eliminating the two epidemics as public health threats by 2030, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and South Africa’s corresponding National Development Plan 2030.
Under the Deputy President’s leadership, the SANAC Plenary contributed to the HIV and TB Africa Common Position on matters of Human Rights of Key and Vulnerable Populations and of LGBTQI+ people.
As the Chairperson of the SANAC Inter-Ministerial Committee on COVID-19 vaccines, Deputy President Mabuza ensured that there is synergy between the work of SANAC in the implementation of the Catch-Up Plans, which were drafted to mitigate against the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on HIV and TB work. The Deputy President was also instrumental in leading the vaccines drive to ensure that all South Africans are vaccinated, and vaccine targets are achieved. SANAC celebrates his virtuous efforts and wishes him well in his future endeavours.