Deputy president Paul Mashatile says South Africa will roll out lenacapavir, a twice-yearly HIV prevention injection, in the public sector from 2026. Announcing the plan on World Aids Day, he said the long-acting shot could sharply reduce new infections, particularly among young women.

The injection offers six months of protection per dose and will be introduced at selected clinics with support from global health partners. Officials say it will bolster existing PrEP and treatment programmes as South Africa pushes to close its HIV-prevention gaps.