​Koketso Maraba
 
Over 546 students tested for HIV, while more than 36 000 condoms were distributed during the "Close the Gap" campaign launch at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) on Friday, 9 May 2025, marking the official start of the campaign's rollout within the Higher Education and Youth Sector.
MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko joined the students to promote HIV awareness and encourage young people to take charge of their health. The national campaign aims to get 1.1 million people living with HIV onto treatment, with a strong focus on reaching students and youth.
The MEC said that universities and colleges are key locations for this initiative as they offer the opportunity to raise awareness, fight stigma, and make health services more accessible to young people.
"We are here because HIV is still a real threat. But together, we can fight smarter and win. It starts with knowing your status.
"HIV does not care if you are in school or how smart you are. Some young people were born with HIV, some got it through unprotected sex, and others were infected in tragic situations. The message is clear, being HIV positive is not something to be ashamed of. You must be smarter than HIV," said MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko, reminding the students that HIV does not discriminate,
The national campaign was launched at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in February this year to ensure that no one is left behind in HIV treatment. It is now being expanded to higher education institutions nationally and across Gauteng.
"Too often, conversations around HIV/AIDS are brief, avoided, or dismissed not because they're unimportant, but because many people simply don't know enough to engage. A lack of knowledge doesn't just shorten discussions; it reinforces stigma, breeds fear, and prevents life-saving information from being shared," said Kutlwano Kgagamedi, peer educator from VUT. 
Mpho Mogotsi, a Peer Educator also called on the youth to take responsibility for their health. She encourages everyone to "Close The Gap" by sticking to treatment for all chronic conditions. 
There are still more than 326 000 people in Gauteng who need HIV treatment, many of them students. Across South Africa, over 282 000 young people aged 15 to 24 are not yet on treatment. The Department of Health is calling on students to help close this gap.
In addition, GDOH has introduced Youth Zones in clinics, deployed mobile health units, and trained counsellors who work specifically with young people. Many clinics now also offer mental health support, HIV and TB testing, and help for survivors of gender-based violence, all in one place.