South Africa's Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has robustly defended the phased rollout of Lenacapavir, a groundbreaking six-monthly injectable HIV prevention drug, amid criticism from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) over its limited initial distribution. The rollout, launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa in Mpumalanga, aims to reduce new HIV infections and advance the goal of ending Aids as a public health threat by 2030. Motsoaledi explained that the initial 37,920 doses represent the supply capacity of pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences, not the government's order. He stressed that Lenacapavir is expensive, costing $28,218 (about R456,849) per person per year, and is currently funded by a US$29.2 million grant from the Global Fund. This investment allows South Africa to establish necessary systems for future full-scale implementation using domestic resources once affordable generics become available. The minister outlined a two-phase plan, with phase 2 aiming to expand access to all primary health care facilities by the 2027/28 financial year, dependent on generic availability. Meanwhile, Gauteng's Department of Health has already exceeded its target, initiating 6,130 clients in the first month, representing 131% of its monthly goal. Motsoaledi emphasized that South Africa is not relying on charity, as the country already funds 74% of its HIV response domestically, and the Global Fund grant is a catalytic investment for sustainability.