[datenhorst]

I believe the theory is that since this variant has so many mutations, it evolved over quite some time within a single host with a lowered immune response. Makes sense that this would happen in an area with high HIV prevalence.

[onlyrealcuzzo]

It's interesting that SA has a pretty small population (compared to the world) and has produced 2 out of 8 (?) concerning variants.

It would be a small chance for this to be completely random.

South Africa has ~3M reported cases (~1.2% of global) and ~60M people (~.7% of global).