KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Health Nomagugu Simelane says the province is no longer the epicentre of HIV/AIDS that it once was, reflecting progress made through the collective efforts of government, healthcare professionals, civil society, development partners and communities.
Simelane said this during the joint meeting of Southern African Development Community (SADC) Ministers of Health and Ministers responsible for HIV and AIDS, held at the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC).
She however,said that the province could not celebrate the fact that another province now carries the burden that has caused so much pain and suffering in communities.
“Instead, we must intensify our collective efforts to prevent new infections, expand access to testing and ensure that people who need treatment are supported to remain in care.
“Our ultimate goal must remain an AIDS-free generation. We must acknowledge that challenges remain, including people who do not know their HIV status, those who need additional support to remain on treatment, as well as those who continue to experience stigma and discrimination,” she said.
Simelane added that the responsibility for government was to address these gaps, protect the gains that had been made and ensure that nobody was left behind.
In July 2026, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) reported that the country’s HIV prevalence had increased from 8.3% in 2002 to 12.3% in 2026.
Despite South Africa having the world’s largest HIV treatment programme, an estimated 7.83 million people were living with HIV in 2026.
The figures highlight the continued burden of HIV in the country and the need to strengthen prevention, testing and treatment programmes.
