---
title: "Redi Tlhabi meets Winnie Byanyima: Fighting AIDS, inequality and reclaiming power"
description: "UNAIDS head Winnie Byanyima joins Redi Tlhabi to unpack HIV funding, health justice, and democracy under threat. From South Africa to the UN, she reveals what it takes to lead—and why the world must act now. A bold, urgent conversation on rights, resistance, and real change."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "THE READINESS REPORT"
author: "Redi Tlhabi"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/redi-tlhabi/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-07-14-redi-tlhabi-meets-winnie-byanyima-ending-aids-fighting-inequality-reclaiming-power/"
published: "2025-07-14T10:57:01"
updated: "2025-07-14T14:58:05"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 104
---

# Redi Tlhabi meets Winnie Byanyima: Fighting AIDS, inequality and reclaiming power

> UNAIDS head Winnie Byanyima joins Redi Tlhabi to unpack HIV funding, health justice, and democracy under threat. From South Africa to the UN, she reveals what it takes to lead—and why the world must act now. A bold, urgent conversation on rights, resistance, and real change.

By Redi Tlhabi · Published 14 July 2025, 12:57 SAST · Updated 14 July 2025, 16:58 SAST

## Key points
- The UNAids Global Aids Update 2025 celebrates progress in the fight against HIV/Aids, but warns that US funding cuts could unleash a new wave of infections and deaths, proving that sometimes, good news comes with a side of cautionary tales.
- UNAids' Global Aids Update 2025 highlights significant progress in fighting HIV/Aids globally.
- A looming funding crisis from USAid could lead to six million new infections and four million Aids-related deaths by 2029.
- The report emphasizes the urgent need for global solidarity to combat these challenges.
- For more insights, watch the discussion hosted by Redi Tlhabi featuring Winnie Byanyima.

## Content

The UNAids Global Aids Update 2025, launched on 10 July, shows ‘remarkable achievements’ in the worldwide effort to combat HIV/Aids. However, because of the cut in USAid funding, there could be an additional six million HIV infections and an additional four million Aids-related deaths by 2029.

Read more about the report: [UNAids HIV/Aids report calls for ‘global solidarity’ in face of mass funding cuts](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-07-10-unaids-hiv-aids-report-calls-for-global-solidarity-in-face-of-mass-funding-cuts/)

[YouTube video: "YouTube video"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pP1C7JpmEDM)

[Media](https://player.simplecast.com/5855b938-830e-4edd-b445-dc62407e05b4?dark=false&color=F8F8F6)

**Hosted** by Redi Tlhabi
**Guest** Winnie Byaniyma
**Produced by** Emilie Gambade & Bernard Kotze
**Original Theme Music & Design**by Bernard Kotze

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