MyZA
News, Directory, Events and Other Stuff
Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) as part of our whole-of-society approach, has today together with the Freedom Front Plus accepted a petition and draft Bill from the Trade Union, Solidariteit, dealing with the National Health Insurance Act (NHI). In terms of Rule 347 of the National Assembly (NA) Rules, petitions to the NA should …
Dear Editor On the eve of NERSA’s decision, the DA calls on the regulator to put an end to this madness. South Africans should not be forced to pay for Eskom’s failure to get its house in order.” The Democratic Alliance (DA) makes its final and unequivocal call for the National Energy Regulator of South …
Health Minister encourages adherence to ARV treatment
Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, has appealed to people on antiretroviral (ARV) treatment to continue taking their medication amid reports that grant funding by the United States of America (USA) is under review.
The review of the grant funding is expected to affect the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) programme, which is aimed at supporting HIV prevention, care and treatment. The programme supports several countries, including South Africa, to achieve HIV epidemic control.
Addressing members of the media on the sidelines of a two-day Cabinet Lekgotla, Motsoaledi said the country’s ARVs proramme will not be affected, as it is funded by the South African government and the Global Fund.
“For now, all HIV/AIDS programmes continue. As the South African government, we want to ascertain that nobody must stop taking ARVs because that will be devastating,” Motsoaledi said on Wednesday.
South Africa has 52 districts and of those, 27 districts are funded by PEPFAR.
“PEPFAR chose 27 of the most affected districts and these districts are in eight provinces, as they choose districts based on the burden of HIV/AIDS. The only province that is not included is the Northern Cape because it does not have any districts that are highly affected by HIV/AIDS,” the Minister said.
Of the 27 districts, seven of them are in KwaZulu-Natal; five are in the Eastern Cape, four are in Gauteng; three are in Mpumalanga and the North West, respectively; two are in Limpopo and one is in the Western Cape.
“The total number of people on the ground who are dealing with HIV/AIDS in those 27 districts is 271 606. Of the 271 606 people, 256 452 are funded by South Africa from the fiscus. That leaves us with 15 145 people, who will be affected by the withdrawal.
“Our biggest problems will be the salaries and the operational costs. That is what we are looking at with National Treasury,” Motsoaledi said.
Seventy-six percent of the funding for HIV/AIDS programmes is from South Africa. This constitutes 74% of funding from the government and 2% from the private sector.
“That leaves us with a gap that is filled by the Global Fund, which gives 7% and PEPFAR, which accounts for 17%. When you add the funds from the Global Fund and South Africa’s funding, that makes 83% and PEPFAR remains with the 17%. We are buying ARVs, together with the Global Fund,” the Minister said.
With reports indicating changes in the grant funding by the US, Motsoaledi said the government of South Africa has not received any communication on these changes.
“So far, we have not received a letter from the American government. These funds for the HIV/AIDS programmes come through National Treasury and they have not received a letter; the Department of Health and Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) have also not received a letter.
“We have tried to contact the US embassy and we couldn’t get them. The NGOs and the clinics that are funded by PEPFAR are the ones who have received letters,” the Minister said.
Out of the 63 million people in South Africa, 7.8 million people are HIV positive, with 5.5 million on ARVs.
In 2014, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) adopted the strategy of 95-95-95, which sets a target that 95% of people living with HIV (PLHIV) must know their HIV status; 95% of people diagnosed with HIV must receive antiretroviral therapy (ART) and 95% of people receiving ART must achieve viral load suppression (VLS).
“We are on 96%. That means 96% of people who have HIV in South Africa know their status but of those, 79% are on treatment and in that 79% who are on ARVs, 94% of them are virally suppressed. It means that they can no longer spread the virus, reducing the number of new infections.
“For us to reach the 95-95-95 targets by 2030 - because we want to eliminate HIV as a threat to human health - we need 1.1million people to be on treatment so we reach the target,” the Minister said. - SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Thu, 01/30/2025 - 07:00
Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Sedibeng District Municipality welcomes the successful Motion of No Confidence (MONC) brought against Executive Mayor Cllr Lerato Maloka. The Sedibeng District Municipality is finally rid of the ineffective, and problematic Executive Mayor Maloka. This DA sponsored motion passed with 26 votes in favour of the MONC, and …
Dear Editor The situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to worsen, with thirteen South African soldiers tragically killed, and the fate of many others still unknown. And yet, President Cyril Ramaphosa remains silent. Since the crisis began, he has failed to say a word, failing to provide any leadership or support to …
Dear Editor Following sustained pressure from the Democratic Alliance (DA), the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), Parks Tau, has authorised an independent investigation into governance and performance failures at the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS). While we welcome this decision, it should not have taken months of advocacy to prompt action, …
Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) condemns in the strongest possible terms the recent actions by the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans who, over the last few days, has wilfully stifled the committee in their constitutionally protected oversight role. This, in the middle of an existential military crisis facing members …
But things didn’t go the way they wanted
The Bridge City Housing development was approved in 2019 but due to delays and financial problems the project remains largely incomplete
Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA), as part of South Africa’s Government of National Unity, calls on the United States government to urgently restore PEPFAR funding for the treatment of HIV/AIDS. The immediate cessation of PEPFAR funding has resulted in the sudden suspension of critical health support services at NGO’s across the nation, on which …
Dear Editor While SANDF soldiers are dying in the DRC, the SIU today confirmed that Denel received and was paid R8.3 billion for a contract signed in 2007 to deliver 264 Badger armoured personnel carriers over the following ten years. It’s been almost twenty years since signing that ten year contract. To date, none of …
Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) reiterates our calls for the MEC of Education, Abraham Vosloo, to be summoned before the Portfolio Committee on Education, Sport, Arts & Culture after more than six months have passed since many Northern Cape schools last received funding. Schools have been left without funds needed for stationery, food schemes, …
Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Buffalo City Municipality has launched a strategy and petition calling for a turnaround of the BCM electricity department so that residents and businesses no longer need to carry the costs of municipal inefficiencies and waste. The BCM electricity department is on the verge of total financial collapse. …
Dear Editor South Africans awoke this morning to disturbing footage of South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers raising a makeshift white flag to the M23 Rebels. Unconfirmed reports this morning indicate that troops have been captured, after being surrounded M23 yesterday following heavy fighting. This includes alarming accounts of four more South African fatalities, …
Dutywa residents were promised houses and told relocation was only temporary by Mbashe Local Municipality
Dear Editor Last week, I wrote to the President seeking swift action against Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, who is awaiting prosecution from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), over her involvement in an illegal tender while Municipal Manager of Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality. While the Presidency acknowledged receipt of my letter, this is simply not …
Dear Editor The DA, for the last 15 years, has stated that we do not support any further mega bailouts for State Owned Companies, and is alarmed that the ANC appears to be undermining policymaking in the GNU by insisting that Transnet gets a substantial bailout. South Africa cannot afford to spend more money on …
Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance calls on the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Angie Motshekga, to urgently brief Parliament on the deteriorating and calamitous situation in the DRC, with 9 soldiers killed in action and many more wounded in the past two days. As our hearts go out to their families, we will not …
Dear Editor The DA will request an urgent Parliamentary Portfolio Committee hearing on the ongoing and growing breakdowns of service at South Africa’s major airports. Minister Creecy and the senior management of ACSA must be called to report to committee on the scope of the brewing crisis, and their plans to address it. It is …
Dear Editor The DA has been inundated by worried South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) beneficiaries who fear that they will not receive their social grants, either because their SASSA Gold Cards are set to stop working at the end of February or because they are unable to verify their details for the Social Relief …
On Friday, 24 September 2025, Premier Alan Winde took part in the official sod-turning ceremony for the multi-million Rand renewable energy project being constructed in Riversdale, in the southern Cape. This project will bring reliable, affordable, and renewable energy to this growing hub of economic activity and job creation. Tertuis Simmers, Western Cape Minister of …
Dear Editor Seven months ago, South Africans were imbued with a sense of hope when the African National Congress and the Democratic Alliance signed a Statement of Intent, heralding a new era of power-sharing in South Africa. The Statement of Intent was the basis upon which the Democratic Alliance agreed to vote President Cyril Ramaphosa …
Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance expresses its condolences with the families of the three SANDF members who tragically lost their lives in the intensified conflict in Sake in the eastern DRC on the 23rd January 2025. In addition, at least 18 SANDF soldiers were wounded in the ongoing battles with M23 rebels in their new …
The Boland Park and Newlands sell-out crowds were abuzz as their home teams delighted with sizzling performances. England World Cup-winner and legend Joe Root struck a masterful 78 not out and claimed two wickets to steer the Paarl Royals into the Betway SA20 Playoffs at a fiercely hot Boland Park on Saturday afternoon. The Royals …