Thabile Mwandla, a Clinical Technology alumna of the Durban University of Technology (DUT) is amongst a selected team of South African clinical researchers who contributed to the development and testing of Lenacapavir, an innovative injectable medication designed for HIV prevention.
This is exciting news for DUT and Mwandla as the South African Department of Health confirmed the arrival of the first shipment of 37 920 doses of Lenapacavir on Tuesday, 07 April 2026. The Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi described this first shipment as a significant boost to the country’s HIV prevention efforts.
Clinical Research Associate, Thabile Mwandla.
Mwandla who is a Clinical Research Associate shared her excitement on the arrival of the first shipment Lenapacavir doses in South Africa. She is proud of herself for having been amongst the game changers She revealed that last year in June, the team received communication that Lenacapavir was finally approved.
“We were happy to get the news of its approval. We could not wait for its arrival in South Africa. Administered just twice a year, Lenacapavir represents a major advancement in efforts to curb HIV transmission, particularly in high-burden communities. We have worked hard over the last three years testing the medication. We had 25 sites made up of clinics, hospitals and research centres. The investigations were conducted in South Africa and Uganda. Our patients were young people aged 18-25 years and within three years we had a break through after many tests were conducted and we had undergone several approvals from international health regulatory bodies,” shared Mwandla.
Born and raised in the rural area of KwaMaphumulo, KwaZulu-Natal Mwandla’s desire is for the medication to be accessible freely to all citizens, especially young people.
“My wish is for the medication to be offered for free to everyone especially young people in schools and universities. I believe that is where we can curb the spread of HIV, young people remain among the most vulnerable to new HIV infections. Having grown up in a rural area, I advocate for people in the rural areas and townships. Scientific breakthroughs must be matched by equitable access, education, and community outreach to achieve meaningful public health impact,” shared Mwandla.
According to Mwandla this innovation is more than a medical advancement; it represents a shift in accessibility, dignity, and hope. She believes by removing the challenge of daily adherence, it offers a simpler and more effective option for millions of people at risk of HIV
After graduating from DUT, Mwandla began her career as a Clinical Technologist specialising in Pulmonology. Her dedication and excellence quickly set her apart, and by the age of 26, she had been appointed as the Head of Department in Pulmonology.
She was later accepted into postgraduate Honours studies in the Science of Clinical Research at the University of Liverpool in London, marking the beginning of her journey into global medical science.
Beyond her scientific achievements, Mwandla is also an entrepreneur and the founder of the Mwandla Foundation, an organisation dedicated to supporting high school learners by providing basic needs, career guidance, and mentorship to help them pursue their educational dreams.
Mwandla’s achievement underscores the University’s commitment to research excellence and translating knowledge into innovation, entrepreneurship and meaningful societal impact, in line with DUT’s ENVISION2030 strategy.
Pictured: DUT’s Clinical Technology alumna, Ms Thabile Mwandla who is amongst the South African gamechangers who contributed to the development and testing of Lenacapavir.
Simangele Zuma/Sinamile Sithole
