Premier of KwaZulu Natal Province, Hon. Nomusa Dube-Ncube
KZN MEC of Health, Hon. Nomagugu Simelane
MECs in present,
Major of eThekwini Metro, Your Worship Clr Mxolisi Kaunda,
Co-chair of South African National AIDS Council, Ms Steve Letsike,
PEPFAR Ambassador John Nkengasong,
The CEO of South African National AIDS Council, Dr Thembisile Xulu,
Co-Chairs of the 11th SA AIDS Conference, Dr Gloria Maimela and Dr Thato Chidarikire,
Our Developmental Partners UN Agencies (WHO, UNAIDS, UNICEF, UNPFA), PEPFAR Agencies (USAID, CDC) and Global Fund,
Civil Society Organizations and Implementing partners,
Ladies and gentlemen.

Good Morning

As we wrap up the 11th SAAIDS Conference 2023 which was held the over the past 3 and half days, I would like to applaud the conference chairs and the organizing committee for hosting a successful conference. Most importantly, I would like to applaud and commend the entire HIV community, all the delegates and speakers and participants, because without you all, we would not be talking about the success of this conference.

However, I wish to express my deepest apologies to the people with disabilities. I have been made aware of the lack of sign language interpretations during the opening ceremony and some subsequent glitches encountered that affected the disability community. I humbly apologize on behalf of the conference organizers, and the country for how this may have affected the confidence that the people with disabilities may have felt a sense of exclusion. This is not what we are about in relations to the sector, and be rest assured that you are important to us and your contribution in ending the epidemic is equally invaluable.

Full Speech Attached