In the West the peak of the Aids epidemic was in 1985. But HIV and Aids hit South Africa only in the 1990s, just as we were starting to build a new society out of the ruins of apartheid. Here, the epidemic peaked in 2006.

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READ MORE: HIV and Aids in South Africa

The presidents

• FW de Klerk was apartheid South Africa’s last State President. He held office from 15 August 1989 to 10 May 1994.
• Nelson Mandela was democratic South Africa’s first President. He held office from 10 May 1994 to 14 June 1999.
• Thabo Mbeki was democratic South Africa’s second President. He held office from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008.
• Kgalema Motlanthe was democratic South Africa’s third President. He held office from 25 September 2008 to 9 May 2009.
• Jacob Zuma was democratic South Africa’s fourth President. He held office from 9 May 2009 to 14 February 2018.
• Cyril Ramaphosa is democratic South Africa’s fifth President. He took office on 15 February 2018.

Written, researched and designed by Mary Alexander
Updated 14 October 2019

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