Author: Njih Favour
A rare disease is any medical condition that affects a small percentage of the population. (Photo: Shutterstock) News & Features 27th February 2026 | Elna Schütz Individual rare diseases impact only a very small fraction of people, but collectively they are estimated to affect over three million in South Africa. As we mark International Rare Disease Day on 28 February, Spotlight assesses the state of play with rare diseases in the country. Mpho Matseka used to be considered a particularly naughty child, since he seemed to always be the first to get injured or sick. Now, he knows that the…
By Dr Patrick Ngassa Piotie, Chairperson of the Diabetes Alliance The 2026 budget speech delivered by finance minister Enoch Godongwana appears disconnected from the scientific and clinical evidence emerging daily from public health facilities. Treasury allocated R21.3 billion to support the employment of doctors and R26 billion for HIV/AIDS programmes. These are important steps for our health system. Yet there’s no dedicated funding stream to tackle the non-communicable disease (NCDs) crisis facing the country. South Africa’s health profile has changed fundamentally over the past decade. NCDs have been the leading causes of death since 2010. We are no longer confronting…
An estimated 3 500 patients who visit Phuthanang Clinic in Tsakane each month are forced to seek medical care at other clinics. This comes after the City of Ekurhuleni temporarily reassigned health workers from Phuthanang to nearby facilities following a go-slow this week. Workers downed tools, protesting the continuous dysfunction of the toilets at the facility. The female toilets have been cordoned off, preventing them from being used. One patient tells Health-e News that the toilet issue has been persisting for “more than three years”. To relieve themselves, patients use the toilets at a nearby mechanic workshop or the Tsakane…
Dr Sheetal Kassim, the site lead for the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation’s clinical trial site at Groote Schuur Hospital. (Photo: Nasief Manie/Spotlight) News & Features 26th February 2026 | Elri Voigt A cutting-edge, South African-led HIV vaccine trial built on decades of research recently kicked off in Cape Town. Spotlight unpacks what exactly is being studied, and how the resilience, tenacity and urgency of a group of dedicated South African researchers made it possible. Antiretroviral medicines can suppress HIV in the body and keep people healthy, but we do not yet have a viable cure for HIV or an effective…
25 Feb Powering Excellence: SAHPRA fuels future Innovators with Tech Boost at SMU Awards Posted at 12:55h in News & Updates by Ntokozo Msiza The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) reinforced its role as a champion of scientific advancement by sponsoring top achievers at the 2025 Dean’s Excellence Awards hosted by Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University. Held on 13 February 2026 in Ga-Rankuwa, north of Pretoria, the ceremony honoured five exceptional students from the Faculty of Science and Innovation with high-performance laptops and accessories in recognition of their academic distinction. The annual awards celebrate outstanding scholarly achievement and…
In Limpopo, communities that were ravaged by the recent floods now face another problem. Residents tell Health-e News there’s a noticeable increase in mosquitoes, and they’re worried about getting sick. The malaria-endemic region is a breeding ground for mosquitoes during the hot, rainy season from September to May. But this year, the buzz is relentless. “It’s the worst it’s been in the past 30 years, since I was born,” says Muxe Ngobeni, a 34-year-old resident of Khakhala. Earlier this month the Limpopo Department of Health issued a warning of a rise in malaria cases, while experts warned of a significant…
Some people who don’t medically need GLP-1s are using them, while others who could benefit from these potentially life-saving medicines go without. (Photo: Shutterstock) News & Features 25th February 2026 | Catherine Tomlinson In South Africa, access to weight loss medicines like Ozempic and Mounjaro remains limited to those who can shell out a few thousand Rand a month. In the second article of a Spotlight special series, we look at the medical need for these medicines in the country and what it would take for government to provide them in the public sector. The World Health Organization (WHO) has…
23 Feb SAHPRA Responds to Carte Blanche Report on Alleged GMP Non-compliance at Adcock Ingram Clayville Facility The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has noted the recent Carte Blanche broadcast raising concerns, based on information from a former employee, regarding alleged Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) non-compliance at Adcock Ingram’s manufacturing facility in Clayville, Johannesburg. SAHPRA wishes to assure the public that all allegations relating to possible regulatory infringements or risks resulting from non-compliance to GMP that compromise product quality and patient safety are treated with the utmost urgency. SAHPRA is mandated by the Medicines and Related Substances Act…
This project is funded by: The Human Rights Commission in Limpopo says it will prioritise the complaint laid by residents of Seshego against the Polokwane Municipality for failing to provide safe drinking water, because of the seriousness of the case. Residents say, despite assurances by Polokwane Mayor John Mpe, the water coming out of their taps is dirty and causes stomach cramps, runny tummy and nausea, with some illnesses dating back to early December 2025. In December, Mpe visited Seshego and declared the water safe after drinking from a tap. But last week, when Health-e News visited the area, the…
The District Health Programme Grant is a mechanism for funding the country’s public health efforts, particularly relating to HIV, TB, and other communicable diseases. (Photo: Shutterstock) Comment & Analysis 19th February 2026 | Russell Rensburg District managers in South Africa’s public healthcare system currently have to juggle funding from multiple government budget lines, each with different strings attached. To improve district health services, we urgently need to simplify and integrate these funding flows, argues Russell Rensburg. In his State of the Nation Address this year, for the first time in a long time, President Cyril Ramaphosa focused on the broader…