A 47-year-old man accused of deliberately infecting his former girlfriend with HIV is expected to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Monday, facing a charge of attempted murder.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the alleged offences occurred between October 2025 and June 2026 while the accused was in a relationship with the 38-year-old complainant.
NPA spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said the State alleges that the man repeatedly told the woman he was HIV negative during their relationship.
The woman later allegedly discovered antiretroviral (ARV) medication among his belongings and confronted him about it. The accused allegedly admitted that he was HIV positive and told her he had intentionally infected her because he did not want her to be in a relationship with anyone else.
On 25 July 2026, the woman underwent an HIV test at a medical facility and was informed that she had tested positive.
The matter was subsequently reported to police, who arrested the accused at his home.
The TEARS Foundation said that, if the allegations are proven in court, the case would amount to a serious violation of trust, bodily autonomy and informed consent.
The organisation highlighted that gender-based violence extends beyond physical attacks and can include manipulation, coercive control and deception that prevents victims from making informed decisions about their own health and bodies.
The foundation also warned against stigmatising people living with HIV, emphasising that the concern in this case is not the accused’s HIV status, but the alleged deliberate deception and harm.
It urged anyone who believes they may have been deliberately exposed to HIV or who is experiencing abuse to seek medical attention and support as soon as possible.
The organisation said survivors should be treated with dignity and compassion and have access to appropriate trauma-informed services.