By Lebone Rodah Mosima
Clinical Technology alumna of the Durban University of Technology (DUT), Thabile Mwandla, says she believes that by removing the challenge of daily adherence, the Lenacapavir injectable will offer a simpler and more effective option for millions of people at risk of HIV.
Mwandla was among a selected team of South African clinical researchers who contributed to the development and testing of Lenacapavir, designed for HIV prevention.
According to the Department of Health (DOH), the first batch received in South Africa consists of 37,920 doses. Bhekisisa reported that the doses arrived in two shipments on 30 March and 2 April.
“Administered just twice a year, Lenacapavir represents a major advancement in efforts to curb HIV transmission, particularly in high-burden communities. We have worked hard over the last three years testing the medication,” Mwandla said.
An official launch date will be announced by Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, in consultation with President Cyril Ramaphosa, with the launch to be led by the President.
The announcement comes after the World Health Organisation (WHO) released new guidelines in July 2025 during the 13th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science in Kigali, Rwanda. It recommended injectable Lenacapavir as an additional pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) option for HIV prevention.
Regulator SAHPRA announced the registration of Lenacapavir on 27 October 2025, making South Africa the first African country to approve the twice-yearly injection.
Mwandla, who works as a Clinical Research Associate, was born and raised in the rural area of KwaMaphumulo in KwaZulu-Natal.
She expressed her desire for the medication to be offered free of charge to everyone, particularly young people in schools and universities.
“I believe that is where we can curb the spread of HIV. Young people remain among the most vulnerable to new HIV infections,” Mwandla said.
“Having grown up in a rural area, I advocate for people in the rural areas and townships. Scientific breakthroughs must be matched by equitable access, education, and community outreach to achieve meaningful public health impact.”
The medication was “more than a medical advancement; it represents a shift in accessibility, dignity, and hope,” she said.
Mwandla is pursuing her Honours in the Science of Clinical Research at the University of Liverpool, and previously worked as a Clinical Technologist specialising in Pulmonology.
She is the founder of the Mwandla Foundation, an organisation dedicated to supporting high school learners by providing basic needs, career guidance and mentorship.
The DOH has said that HIV prevention options need to be expanded to improve adherence, especially among vulnerable groups such as adolescent girls and young women, sex workers, and men who have sex with men.
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