​Rofhiwa Marubini 
Gauteng Premier David Makhura says the COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted the fight against HIV and Aids.
Makhura said many people, who were on antiretroviral treatment, defaulted and lost their lives due to weakened immune systems.
"In the last year and a half, there has been a significant reversal especially in terms of those who were in antiretroviral therapy. 
"We had a significant drop to the point where, in September 2020, we moved lower to 64% to those who were on ARVs. They were lost in the system because of COVID-19," said Makhura.
The premier was speaking in Duduza, Ekurhuleni during the World Aids Day commemoration on Wednesday. 
The international day is used to reflect on the strides that have been made to deal with the disease.
This year's commemoration was held under the theme "Working Together to End inequalities, AIDS, TB and COVID-19."
Statistics South Africa reports that over 8.2 million people are living with HIV in the country.
Nomasomi Limako (47) said living with disability and HIV at the same time has been a challenge. 
"It's hard to live with a disability, but to have HIV at the same time is three times harder."
Limako, who has been living with HIV for 18 years, said there are no policy services that are directed to people who have disabilities and living with HIV at the same time. 
She made a special plea to government to advocate the policy for disabled people who are living with HIV.