South African Man Allegedly Admits Intentionally Infecting Girlfriend With HIV Because He Didn’t Want Her With Another Man

A 47-year-old South African man has been accused of deliberately infecting his girlfriend with HIV because he allegedly did not want her to enter a relationship with another person.

The man appeared before the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court, where he was granted bail of R2,000 while facing a charge of attempted murder, according to South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

How the Alleged Incident Happened

According to the NPA, the man and his 38-year-old girlfriend were in a relationship between October 2025 and June 2026.

During the relationship, the accused allegedly told the woman that he was HIV-negative. However, on June 26, 2026, she reportedly discovered antiretroviral (ARV) medication in his bag.

When she confronted him, the man allegedly admitted that he was HIV-positive and, according to the prosecution's account, said he had intentionally infected her because he did not want her to be in a relationship with someone else.

Woman Later Tests HIV-Positive

The woman subsequently underwent an HIV test at a medical facility on July 25, 2026, and was informed that she had tested positive.

She reportedly went to the police the following day, after which the accused was arrested at their shared residence.

The allegations have sparked outrage because deliberately exposing another person to a serious infectious disease represents an extreme breach of trust, particularly within an intimate relationship.

Man Granted Bail

During the bail proceedings, the State did not oppose the man's release, reportedly arguing that he was not considered a flight risk.

The court subsequently granted him bail of R2,000.

The case has been postponed to August 27, 2026, when the court is expected to determine a regional-court date. The attempted-murder charge remains an allegation at this stage, and the accused has not been convicted.

A Serious Legal Issue

South African courts have previously dealt with cases involving the deliberate transmission or exposure of sexual partners to HIV.

In a separate case, former SANDF soldier Leon Santos Conga was sentenced to life imprisonment for rape and received an additional 10-year sentence for attempted murder after being convicted of knowingly exposing and infecting his girlfriend with HIV.

However, the circumstances of that earlier case were different, and each case must be determined on its own evidence.

Bottom Line

The latest Pretoria case is now before the courts, with prosecutors alleging that the accused knowingly concealed his HIV status and intentionally infected his partner to prevent her from being with another man.

The allegations have not yet been proven in court, and the accused remains presumed innocent unless and until convicted.