South Africa Commemorates World AIDS Day 2025 in Limpopo
- Karabo Makgato
South Africa joined the global community on 01 December 2025 to commemorate World AIDS Day, with the official national event led by SANAC Chairperson Deputy President Paul Mashatileat Masemola Stadium in Ga-Masemola, Sekhukhune District, Limpopo Province.
World AIDS Day is observed annually to honour the millions of lives lost to AIDS-related illnesses, to stand in solidarity with people living with HIV, and to recommit to ending the epidemic. South Africa’s 2025 theme, “Renewed Efforts and Sustainable Commitments to End AIDS”, calls for reinvigorated strategies to close persistent gaps in prevention, treatment, and care, especially in the context of funding constraints and shifting global priorities.
Addressing the gathering, Deputy President Mashatile emphasised that the commemoration is “not a mere formality, but a critical opportunity to remember those we have lost and to renew our commitment to honour their lives through decisive action.”
South Africa continues to bear the world’s highest HIV burden, with an estimated 8 million people living with HIV, about 6 million of whom are on life-saving antiretroviral treatment. The country has surpassed the first and third UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, with current national figures standing at 96-80-97, compared to global averages of 95-85-92. However, the Deputy President cautioned that the second 95, ensuring that people who know their HIV status are on sustained treatment, remains a major challenge.
To address this gap, government launched the 1.1 million “Close the Gap” HIV Treatment Acceleration Campaign in February 2025. The campaign targets people who know their HIV status but are not yet on treatment, some of whom face barriers such as transport costs, stigma, negative clinic experiences, fear of disclosure, or interrupted care due to migration.
“This campaign is not just about numbers,” said Mashatile. “It is about restoring life, reclaiming hope, and bringing people back into a system they drifted away from for many complex reasons.” The campaign calls for multi-sectoral coordination and intensified community-based interventions, including door-to-door and district-by-district mobilisation, to ensure that no one is left behind.
Significant strides continue to be made to improve treatment access and adherence. The national rollout of Six-Month Multi-Month Dispensing (6MMD) now enables stable patients to collect a six-month supply of antiretroviral medication, reducing clinic visits, transport costs, and pressure on healthcare facilities.
Deputy President Mashatile also highlighted progress in the fight against tuberculosis, which remains the leading infectious killer globally. South Africa has reduced TB incidence by 61% between 2015 and 2024, introduced shorter and more effective treatment regimens, and launched the END TB Campaign, which aims to test five million people annually.
Looking to the future, the Deputy President announced a major breakthrough in HIV prevention with Lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable that provides 100% protection for up to six months with just two injections per year (one injection every six months). “This innovation has profound implications for South Africa,” he said. “It offers practical, dignified protection, especially for young women, key populations, and those who struggle with daily pill adherence.”
South Africa is the first country in Africa and the third globally to register Lenacapavir, following collaboration with SAHPRA, and discussions are underway to explore local manufacturing, ensuring sustainability and security of supply.
Speaking on behalf of civil society, SANAC Civil Society Forum Chairperson Mr Solly Nduku reaffirmed the Forum’s commitment to achieving the elimination of HIV and TB as public health threats by 2030. He applauded government leadership, particularly the implementation of 6MMD and the Close the Gap Campaign, and called for continued unity, inclusion, and protection of the most vulnerable
The 2025 World AIDS Day commemoration marked 20 years since the introduction of antiretroviral therapy in South Africa, a milestone that transformed HIV from a death sentence into a manageable chronic condition and restored dignity, hope, and life expectancy for millions. “Our mission is far from over. Today, we stand at a defining moment, where science, compassion, and unwavering resolve can unite to end an epidemic that has cast its shadow for many years,” Deputy President said.
PLHIV Accountability Meeting at Makgwabe Community Hall-Limpopo
On Sunday, 30 November, People Living with HIV (PLHIV) convened an Accountability Meeting at Makgwabe Community Hall in Ga-Masemola, Limpopo, as part of the build-up activities towards the official commemoration of World AIDS Day. The meeting served as a critical platform for dialogue, reflection, and accountability on the national and provincial HIV response, with a particular focus on the lived realities of communities most affected by the epidemic.
The gathering was attended by the Limpopo MEC for Health, Ms Dieketseng Masesi Mashego, alongside other leaders from the provincial government, national civil society representatives, local community structures, and other stakeholders in the HIV response. The engagement provided an opportunity to share insights on the current state of the HIV epidemic in South Africa, progress made to date, and the persistent challenges that continue to hinder efforts to end AIDS as a public health threat. Importantly, it also enabled community members from Makgwabe and surrounding areas to engage directly with leadership, raise concerns, and contribute to strengthening accountability mechanisms.
Speaking at the Accountability Meeting, SANAC Chief Executive Officer, Dr Thembisile Xulu said, “Direct engagement between people living with HIV and government is not a courtesy, it is a necessity. When people living with HIV have a seat at the decision-making table, when they are consulted before policies are drafted, when their networks co-design programmes, and when their lived experience informs budgets, we see real results”, said Xulu.