World AIDS Day: Mashatile says Lenacapavir rollout must be stigma-free

By Akani Nkuna

Deputy President Paul Mashatile on Monday backed new long-acting HIV prevention injection Lenacapavir, saying it could significantly improve prevention efforts and help curb the disease, and called for a stigma-free rollout.

Mashatile made the remarks in his capacity as chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council, while addressing residents of Ga-Masemola in Limpopo during a World AIDS Day commemoration.

“This innovation has profound implications for South Africa. It offers hope for young women who cannot negotiate condom use. It empowers adolescent girls navigating relationships marked by power imbalances. It provides protection for key populations who face stigma and discrimination,” he said.

“It supports workers and learners who struggle with the burden of daily pill adherence. In other words, Lenacapavir speaks to the reality of our people’s lives, that prevention must be practical, dignified, discreet, and compatible with the pressures of daily survival.”

The event, held under