JOHANNESBURG - A 47-year-old man accused of infecting his 38-year-old girlfriend with HIV is in custody.
He appeared before the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court, where his case was postponed to 3 August for obtaining bail information.
The man from Boschkop in Pretoria faces charges relating to attempted murder.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said his alleged crime dates back between October 2025 and June 2026, when the accused and the woman were in a relationship.
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During this time, the man allegedly lied about his HIV status, claiming he was HIV negative.
However, things later took a turn when the woman allegedly discovered antiretroviral (ARV) medication in the accused’s bag and confronted him about it, Mahanjana said.
“The accused allegedly admitted that he was HIV positive and informed her that he had intentionally infected her because he did not want her to be with another person.
“On 25 July 2026, the complainant underwent an HIV test at a medical facility and was informed that she had tested positive for HIV,” she said.
According to Mahanjana, the matter was reported to the police and subsequently arrested at his residence.