However, as alarming as this may seem, the figure has dropped by more than 50 percent in the past 15 years.
This is according to the latest South Africa Survey, published by the South African Institute of Race Relations which also found that about 400 million condoms, both male and female, had been distributed in 2011/12.
Lerato Moloi, head of research at the institute said although it could not be determined exactly how many condoms were being used, the National HIV Communication Survey found that condom usage for first-time sex participants had increased from 18 percent in 1996 to 66 percent in 2012.
Moloi said the spike indicated that condoms were not only being distributed but also being used.
Additionally, she said the trend towards condom usage for first-time sex participants was important because such people were more likely to use condoms throughout their lives or at least until they were married.
The survey is the annual yearbook on all social, economic, and political aspects of South Africa that the institute has published since 1946.
According to the survey, in 1999 there were 646 806 new infections, the equivalent of 1 772 a day.
By 2013, new infections had decreased to 321 300, the equivalent of 880 a day.
Along with condom distribution, a number of other interventions, including awareness and male circumcision had contributed to the decrease in the number of infections, Moloi said.
Research has shown that male circumcision could reduce men’s risk of contracting HIV by up to 76 percent.
The Department of Health has embarked on a male circumcision campaign and circumcision was expected to prevent one million new infections in South Africa by 2025.
