Aids Healthcare Foundation (AHF) South Africa marked its 25th anniversary with a youth HIV and sexual health activation held at Nkangala TVET College in eMalahleni on October 1.

According to Mmatsie Tsotetsi, national advocacy and marketing manager for AHF South Africa, the organisation, which has been operating in South Africa since 2001, started in KZN and began supporting Mpumalanga nearly three years ago.

Beyond celebrating the change they have brought to the country, Tsotetsi said the event was also a moment to reflect on the work that still needs to be done.

“As much as we are celebrating the huge milestone of 25 years, we realised that there is still a lot that needs to be done, especially among young people and particularly in Mpumalanga, where we have around a 7.8% HIV infection rate for young people,” said Tsotetsi.

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She added that young people remain key drivers of HIV infection, and that widespread misinformation and myths must be addressed through targeted education.

Addressing STI rates and new treatments

Tsotetsi explained that youth in the province face high rates of STI infections and unplanned pregnancies, while condom use remains low.

She noted that despite the recent introduction of lenacapavir for HIV prevention, myths and misconceptions continue to persist.

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Collaborating with youth for future solutions

“Most importantly, we must collaborate with them in sharing the information they need and the services they require from us,” she said.

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— WitbankNews (@WitbankN) October 4, 2026

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