​Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko
 
Young people across Gauteng are still being infected with HIV at worrying rates. While South Africa has made significant progress in the HIV response, adolescents and youth remain one of the most vulnerable population groups  and the most underserved when it comes to treatment uptake and retention.
This is why we launched the Higher Education Sector leg of the Close the Gap campaign at Vaal University of Technology (VUT) on Friday, 9 May. The campaign aims to close the HIV treatment gap by initiating and retaining 1.1 million people on antiretroviral therapy (ART) by December 2025. Gauteng is expected to contribute more than 326,000 of these cases, many of whom are young people aged 15–24.
As the Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, I have been deeply concerned about the treatment gaps that exist among adolescents and youth. The data paints a sobering picture. ART coverage among young people remains unacceptably low, with only 57% of HIV-positive adolescents and young adults currently on treatment, and less than 62% achieving viral suppression.
These are not just statistics. They reflect real lives of students who may not know their status, may be afraid to test, or lacks access to youth-friendly and stigma-free services.
That's why the Close the Gap campaign is not just another HIV awareness drive. It is a national call to action to change the narrative around HIV among young people. It's about empowering students to take charge of their health, to talk openly about HIV, to get tested without fear, and to start treatment without shame.
Our activation at VUT was not about lectures or finger-wagging. It was about connections. Through open dialogue, campus health services, and student-led engagement, we created a space where young people could speak freely about the challenges they face and the solutions they seek.
A key message I delivered was that being HIV-positive is not a reflection of bad behaviour. Some young people were born with the virus. Others contracted HIV through rape or sexual assault. Many did not know they were at risk. We must end the stigma.
We must also tackle the growing social risks that expose young people to HIV. One of the concerns raised by students was the culture of transactional relationships, where young women and men enter relationships with much older partners, often for financial support.
As I said at the launch: NSFAS is your blesser. You don't need another.
This is not just a slogan, it's a reality. With financial aid covering tuition and basic living expenses, we want young people to know they are supported. Trading your health and dignity for data, rent or a lunch date is never worth it. Your future matters more.
 But the responsibility does not lie with young people alone. Government must continue to strengthen access to youth-friendly health services. In Gauteng, we have established Youth Zones in clinics to provide a safe, non-judgmental space for health consultations. We have deployed mobile clinics to underserved areas. We have trained HIV Testing Services (HTS) counsellors to respond to specific needs of young people.
We are also promoting Pre Exposure Prophylaxis for those who may be at risk and Post Exposure Prophylaxis  for those who have had potential exposure, and condoms for everyone who chooses to be sexually active.
Health is a choice, and it must be an easy one to make.
As a province, we are determined to meet our target of closing the 326,000 people treatment gap. But that will only happen if we find and retain every young person in need of treatment. The recent success of our VUT Higher Education sector launch of Close the gap campaign demonstrated how powerful youth-centered outreach can be when backed by political will and community partnership.
I am proud of the students who participated in this launch. I am inspired by their honesty, their activism, and their willingness to lead from the front.
Let us all support them as parents, health professionals, educators, and policymakers in choosing health, dignity, and life.
Together, we can end HIV in our lifetime and Gauteng's young people will be the generation that makes it happen.
Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko is the Member of the Executive Council in the Gauteng Provincial Government responsible for the Health and Wellness portfolio.
 
*This column was first published in TimesLive Opinion & Analysis on the 4th of June 2025.