NLC commits R124m to tackle HIV and tuberculosis in South Africa
Citing past inefficiencies in international aid, Commissioner Jodi Scholtz emphasised that this funding will go directly to workers on the ground.
South Africa.- South Africa’s National Lotteries Commission (NLC) has set aside R124 million (€6.08m) to support organisations working to combat HIV and tuberculosis in a bid to bridge the financial gap created by decreased U.S. funding.
Commissioner Jodi Scholtz announced the funding during a presentation of the NLC’s 2024/2025 annual report to Parliament’s Trade, Industry and Competition portfolio committee on October 15, 2025. She noted that the money will go to three key groups, including the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC), which will receive R70 million (€3.43m) for distribution to partner organisations, R30 million (€1.47m) will go to HIVSA and R24 million (€1.18m) to the Treatment Action Campaign.
Citing past inefficiencies in international aid, Scholtz emphasised that this funding will go directly to workers on the ground. It will particularly benefit high-risk groups, including sex workers, men who have sex with men, and transgender individuals, by improving access to testing, treatment and prevention.
The allocation aims to address the gap left by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)‘s reduced support earlier this year, a move that experts estimate could result in hundreds of thousands more HIV infections and deaths in South Africa over the next decade. Clinics have already reported staff shortages and longer wait times for antiretroviral treatments due to the cuts, according to a recent survey by GroundUp.
Scholtz linked the support to global goals, saying: “We want to help South Africa reach the 95/95/95 goal.” This refers to the United Nations target for 95 per cent of people with HIV knowing their status, 95 per cent of those diagnosed receiving treatment and 95 per cent of treated individuals achieving viral suppression.
The funding adds to other efforts addressing PEPFAR’s gap. South Africa’s Treasury has provided R753.5 million (€36.93m) for HIV programs, while the Global Fund is contributing to a new HIV prevention injection rollout starting in 2026.
Beyond HIV and TB, the NLC has also identified youth development and food security as priorities, particularly in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga provinces. These initiatives align with the commission’s broader mandate to use lottery revenues for community upliftment, including poverty reduction and support for non-profits.
