Author: Njih Favour
South Africa has moved a step closer to an HIV vaccine with the launch of the BRILLIANT 011 clinical trial at the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation (DTHF) site at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town. The first participant has already been enrolled. The trial forms part of the BRILLIANT Consortium, an African-led research initiative working to develop an HIV vaccine designed for strains circulating in Southern Africa. We spoke to Dr Sheetal Kassim, a clinical researcher at the DTHF and principal investigator, about what this milestone means, how the vaccine works, and why vaccine research led by Africans remains a…
In the onion fields at Dutoit Agri’s Kromfontein farm, Annah Khontsiwe chats with farmworkers after educating them about the risks of heat stress. (Photo: Sue Segar/Spotlight) News & Features 6th February 2026 | Sue Segar The health department in the Western Cape is partnering with farms in the Cape Winelands to provide easier access to healthcare for farm workers. Spotlight unpacks one such partnership and why it is a triple win for workers, businesses and the government. It’s a sweltering January afternoon on the Kromfontein farm in the Koue Bokkeveld, north of Ceres in the Western Cape. At least a…
Elderly residents at Ekhanana Old Age Home in Durban’s Umlazi township are facing a growing health and safety crisis after the facility was left without electricity and continues to battle severe shortages of medication, medical support and transport. The non-profit facility has reportedly been without electricity since 3 January 2026 after eThekwini Municipality disconnected the power supply due to an outstanding municipal debt of about R2.7 million. Facility manager Jabulani Kunene says the disconnection happened despite his attempts to engage the municipality and negotiate a “realistic payment arrangement for a facility that relies on limited financial resources while caring for…
Generic semaglutide is expected to become widely available this year, leading to better supply and lower prices. (Photo: Shutterstock) News & Features 4th February 2026 | Catherine Tomlinson Sales of weight loss medicines like Ozempic and Mounjaro have sky-rocketed in South Africa in recent years, although they remain too expensive for most people who might benefit from the jabs. In the first article of this special series, Spotlight tracks their remarkable rise and assesses when they will become more widely available here. A class of weight-loss and diabetes medicines called glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s for short) have made massive…
Dozens of health facilities across Limpopo were damaged by the flooding triggered by persistent heavy rains, which started in December 2025, leaving some partially inaccessible while others operate under strain. At Tswinga Clinic outside Thohoyandou, the perimeter fence collapsed, exposing the clinic to potential criminal activity and disrupting healthcare services. A nurse at the clinic, who spoke to Health-e News on condition of anonymity, says that without a fence, they are in a vulnerable position. “Clinics are often targeted. We don’t want a repeat of incidents like the Chuene Clinic in January 2025, where nurses were kidnapped, robbed and raped.…
Residents of Mahlathi, a village outside Giyani, say they have been forced to use contaminated water for daily needs because of the recent floods in the area. Thandi Mathebula and her family of seven rely on water they collect from a tap at the nearby church. But last week the water was unusable. “The water tasted salty, and when it came out, [of the tap] it looked like cow urine with soap in it,” she tells Health-e News. Mathebula says that after she had drunk some of the water, she immediately started experiencing flu-like symptoms, causing her to cough and…
Weeks after heavy floods tore through parts of the Vhembe District, the scars remain visible in Dopeni village, where residents are still struggling to regain access to healthcare, education and basic services after a vital bridge was washed away. The bridge, which connects Dopeni to neighbouring Siloam village where Siloam Hospital and Rumani Clinic are located, collapsed during severe flooding in early January 2026, leaving the community isolated. Dopeni has no clinic or hospital of its own, making the crossing a lifeline for the sick, elderly and pupils. “There is no clinic here,” says resident Barbra Lishivha. “When the bridge…
Residents of Mbaula village in Limpopo are counting heavy losses two weeks after devastating floods swept through the area. At least 36 homes were destroyed, forcing dozens of families into overcrowded temporary shelters as they wait for government assistance. Clean-up operations remain slow, with mud, debris, and stagnant water still covering streets and yards. The smell of damp earth hangs in the air as residents try to salvage what little remains of their belongings. Many displaced families are sheltering at a local church hall, where conditions are increasingly difficult. “It’s overcrowded and there’s no privacy,” says Sibongile Ngobeni, who is…
As Durban temperatures reached 30 degrees this week, one school resorted to holding classes outside. “Our classrooms are unbearably hot, and young children simply cannot cope. That is why photographs show learners seated outdoors while lessons continue,” says Neil Blankenberg, principal of Assegai Primary School in Wentworth. In December, a 5-year-old pupil fainted in class due to soaring classroom temperatures. This is not an isolated incident. Blankenberg says many children are experiencing nosebleeds and dizziness, symptoms linked to heat stress. Studying the impact of heat on health The World Health Organisation warns that an increasing number of people will be…
A survivor of gender-based violence has developed an online emergency reporting platform aimed at cutting response times for victims of crime and medical emergencies, particularly in rural communities where access to help remains uneven and delays can be deadly. Mapula Mailula (29), from Ga-Maja village outside Polokwane, launched the Crime Emergency Application (CEA) in December 2025. The web-based platform allows users to report incidents or request emergency assistance with the tap of a button, while automatically sharing their real-time location with responders. Users don’t need to write an incident report on the platform. Subscribe to our newsletter Mailula says the…