The iLembe District’s “Closing the 1.1 Million HIV Treatment Gap” campaign took place today at the Umfolozi TVET College – Chief Albert Luthuli Campus in KwaDukuza.

The campaign’s goal is to identify and support the 1.1 million people living with HIV who know their status but aren’t on treatment yet, or who have stopped taking it. This effort addresses a critical gap in the country’s HIV response. The day began with a briefing meeting to ensure that everyone involved was aligned, informed, and prepared before the main event.
Welcoming everyone to the event, Campus Manager Mr. Sanjith Hooblal said it was fitting that Umfolozi was chosen as the host since the event aligns with the college’s motto, “let the future be known.”
“To let the future be known, it is important to ensure you have a future first. This starts by taking care of ourselves and taking our treatment,” he said.

Outlining the purpose of the day and the “Closing the 1.1 Million HIV Treatment Gap” report, Velaphi Bhengu, the iLembe District health department’s primary health care supervisor and operational manager for KwaDukuza, urged students to finish their HIV and TB treatment once they start it. He also stated that the department will investigate installing an adolescent and youth-friendly service at the Groutville Clinic where young people can access services without restraint.

The South African government, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNAIDS, and other stakeholders, launched the campaign in February of this year to accelerate efforts toward achieving the 95-95-95 HIV targets.

Bhengu shared details on how far the KwaDukuza subdistrict is in terms of closing the treatment gap, stating that there were 37,574 people on treatment in February 2025. The subdistrict was given a target of 40,838 people by December 2025. The current number is 37,536, making the gap 3,264.
“We are here to find out today what is chasing people, especially young people, away from clinics and keeping them from accessing treatment,” he said. “The department has come up with reasons why we are regressing in terms of numbers and why people are defaulting on treatment. These include stigma, discrimination, medication side-effects, people moving away, the treatment patients receive in clinics, and not enough knowledge being shared with patients on how the treatment works.”

His Worship the Mayor, Councillor Thobani Shandu, delivered the keynote address, presenting statistics shared at the District Aids Council, which he chairs, earlier this week.
“In this district, we have children as young as ten, 15, and 19 who are pregnant, and some are infected with the virus. It is painful to see parents collect college degrees on graduation day because their child is no longer alive,” he said.

Mayor Shandu urged people not to be ashamed of taking treatments.
“I know some people in Mandeni who would go collect treatment in Eshowe because of shame. Being ashamed of your own health and your life does not make sense. Some of us cannot afford to do that. We don’t come from the same families; some of us come from really struggling homes who are depending on us to make something of ourselves and to uplift our homes,” said the District Mayor.

Ending his address, Mayor Shandu urged the students to do their part so that the government can continue to do its part.
“We have the Siyaya Emhlangeni camp starting today as part of Operation Siyaya eMhlangeni in preparation for Umkhosi womHlanga 2025, and the parade is this Saturday. The government is doing its part in addressing social ills and preserving culture; you must do yours,” said Cllr Shandu.

The Mayor of iLembe District Municipality, Cllr. Thobani Shandu, was on site when the district municipality installed a diesel generator at “Reservoir A” situated near Udumo High School in Mandeni. The generator will ensure that a number of townships feeding off this facility do not run out of water during the intermittent power outages.

Mhlazi 10 August 2025 eMandeni, enkundleni yezemidlalo yase Windowfield, Umasipala wesiFunda iLembe uholwa uMeya, Khansela Thobani Shandu kanye namakhansela omkhandlu wesiFunda iLembe, baphelezelwe amakhansela omkhandlu waseMandeni okuzokwethula iprojekthi yakwakhiwa izindlu zangasese ezibalelwa emakhulwini angama 950 emawadini ayisithupha okubalwa kuwo wadi 2, 8, 11, 16, 17 no-18) aseMandeni.

Umphakathi wawuphakamise ukwakhelwa izindlu zangasese kumhlangano weNtuthuko eDidiyelwe (Integrated Development Plan) owawubanjelwe eMsunduzi Sports Field kuMbasa wezi-2025. Ethula inkulumo yakhe uMeya, Thobani Shandu ugxile kakhulu enkulumeni egqugquzela umphakathi ukuba uyihambele imhlangano yeNtuthuko eDidiyelwe. “Kuhlelelwe u-R8,5 million ukuze kuhlomule imindeni enguphezulu kwamakhulu amane engaphansi kwezigceme zakwaSthebe, kanti enye ingxenye yezindlu zangasese izokwakhelwa imizi eku-ward 2 naku-ward 8 eMandeni kanti lo msebenzi unesabelo sawo sika-R10 Million.” IMeya uThobani Shandu 

Le phrojekthi ihlelelwe ukuhlomulisa amabhizinisi endawo kanye namathuba omsebenzi kubahlali bendawo futhi kugcizelelwe kakhulu ukuqashwa kwabesifazane. “Singuhulumeni okhathalelayo futhi osabela ngokushesha ezidingweni zokulethwa kwezidingo zomphakathi futhi ukwethulwa kwalolu hlelo namuhla kuyinkomba yalokho.” – IMeya yesifunda iLembe uThobani Shandu.

Ndulinde residents will never forget the Saturday of 22 February 2025. It was a day filled with joy and tears as they celebrated the turning of the sod for the long-awaited water scheme. Community members took turns expressing their gratitude for the water that will finally reach their homes.

During the launch, Mayor Thobani Shandu of Ilembe District Municipality shared his feelings. He said it was humbling and fulfilling to see the community’s appreciation for the project. He also mentioned the decades of neglect and marginalisation that the community had endured due to colonial-apartheid spatial planning patterns. For Ilembe, this day, which falls within Black History Month, was a turning point for the community’s livelihood and well-being.

The water scheme, valued at R27 million, will provide clean drinking water to over 450 households in Mandeni Ward 6. It will also create jobs and opportunities for local businesses.

The launch was attended by the leadership of Mhlongo Traditional Council (Skhonyane TC), councillors from iLembe and Mandeni municipalities, residents from St. Cyprian, Mathunzi and Matshamhlophe.