Pretoria: South Africa’s fight against HIV/AIDS has received a boost with the USA government’s approval of the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Bridge Plan (PBP) for South Africa to the value of US$115 million. The announcement was made by Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni at a post-Cabinet media briefing on Thursday.
According to South African Government News Agency, earlier this year, the USA government announced the freezing of global foreign aid funding, which affected the funding South Africa had been receiving to combat HIV/AIDS. The Cabinet welcomed the approval of the PEPFAR Bridge Plan for South Africa valued at US$115 million for six months, from October 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026. The PBP aims to ensure uninterrupted HIV service delivery by supporting service continuity and prioritizing country-specific needs.
Ntshavheni expressed appreciation to the USA government for its commitment to supporting the fight against HIV/AIDS. She emphasized the need for government and international community efforts to ensure progress towards achieving an HIV-free society by 2032.
The Minister also updated the nation on the proposed rollout of the HIV prevention drug Lenacapavir, scheduled for release in March or April 2026. Lenacapavir is a long-acting prevention drug that offers protection for six months with two annual doses. The initial rollout will focus on 23 high-incident districts across six provinces, targeting approximately 360 high-performing public clinics.
The Minister addressed the discovery of antiretroviral drugs and other medications at the bus crash scene in Makhado, Limpopo, last Sunday. The crash, which claimed 43 lives of Zimbabwean and Malawian nationals, is being investigated as a potential case of pharmaceutical smuggling due to the absence of documentation for medical cargo.
Ntshavheni warned against the use of stolen medication, highlighting its impact on the fight against HIV. She stated that people using stolen medication without continuous access may develop resistance, posing a challenge to the fight against HIV.
Cabinet extended condolences to the governments of Zimbabwe and Malawi and well wishes to the 48 injured people in hospitals across the Vhembe District of Limpopo. The Cabinet noted the accident was preventable and called on road users to adhere to traffic regulations to avoid such tragedies.