History of HIV/AIDS in South Africa
In 1983, AIDS was diagnosed for the first time in two patients in South Africa. The first recorded death owing to AIDS occurred in 1983. By 1986, there were 46 recorded AIDS diagnoses. Estimates from 2000 indicated that 5% of actual infections and only 1% of actual deaths due to AIDS were reported prior to 1990. Prior to 1990, AIDS was more common among homosexual people. By 1990, less than 1% of South Africans had AIDS. By 1996, the figure stood at around 3% and by 1999 the figure had reached 10%. AIDS infection started reaching pandemic proportions around 1995.
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