Faced with the persistent scale of HIV, South Africa is turning to a major innovation. On Friday, June 5, 2026, in Secunda in the Mpumalanga province, President Cyril Ramaphosa officially launched the nationwide rollout of lenacapavir, a preventive injection administered every six months. The authorities hope this initiative will significantly reduce new infections in the country, which has around 8.15 million people living with HIV.
It is a major turning point in South Africa’s strategy to combat HIV. On Friday, June 5, 2026, President Cyril Ramaphosa officially launched the rollout of lenacapavir at Lillian Ngoyi Stadium in Secunda, Mpumalanga province. This long-acting preventive injection, administered only twice a year, aims to reduce new HIV infections by improving treatment adherence. The government plans to introduce it across 360 public healthcare facilities in six provinces and 24 districts that are heavily affected by the epidemic.
The launch today of Lenacapavir marks a turning point in our nation’s fight against HIV. To us this incredible treatment is not just a medicine or a drug. To us, it represents a major turning point in South Africa’s national story. It represents one of the most significant scientific breakthroughs since the advent of antiretroviral treatment.
Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic
This initiative comes as South Africa remains one of the countries most affected by HIV in the world. According to Statistics South Africa, around 8.15 million people were living with the virus in 2025. Clinical trials have shown that lenacapavir is safe and nearly 100% effective in preventing HIV transmission. The authorities aim to reach one million beneficiaries by the end of 2027, and then three million people over the following three years. However, officials emphasize that this medication is not a standalone solution and must be combined with testing, health education and efforts to combat stigma.
We are the one country in the world that has carried the heaviest burden of HIV AIDS. We are the one country in the world that has had to administer antiretroviral treatment to millions and millions of our people on a daily basis, and we are one country that has had to deploy billions of rands to keep our people alive.
Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic
Approved in October 2025 by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority, lenacapavir is now at the heart of the national HIV prevention strategy. Supported by the South African government and several international partners, this programme aims to significantly reduce new infections and bring the country closer to its long-term goal: ending HIV as a major public health threat.
