In Westbury, Johannesburg, drugs and gangs overshadow daily life, trapping new generations in addiction and crime. While police crackdowns bring short-lived relief, the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime tells Health Beat that affordable rehabilitation and medical treatment for drug dependents are better investments.
Anna-Maria van Niekerk is Bhekisisa’s news editor. She joined the centre after six years as the managing editor of the investigative television show, Carte Blanche. Anna-Maria has an extensive career in in-depth health and human rights reporting and has been named both the Vodacom Journalist (2002) and Discovery Health Journalist of the Year (2010) for exposés on the selling of human body parts for muti in Limpopo and the devastating consequences of HIV denialism.
- Anna-Maria van Niekerkhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/anna-m/October 28, 2024
- Anna-Maria van Niekerkhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/anna-m/October 15, 2024
- Anna-Maria van Niekerkhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/anna-m/October 3, 2024
- Anna-Maria van Niekerkhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/anna-m/September 30, 2024
Jessica Pitchford is Bhekisisa's TV and multimedia editor. She's been a journalist since the early nineties and has reported on some pivotal events in South Africa’s political history, such as the country’s transition to democracy and the work of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission.
- Jessica Pitchfordhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/jessica-pitchford/October 28, 2024
- Jessica Pitchfordhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/jessica-pitchford/October 15, 2024
- Jessica Pitchfordhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/jessica-pitchford/October 3, 2024
- Jessica Pitchfordhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/jessica-pitchford/September 30, 2024
Mia Malan is the founder and editor-in-chief of Bhekisisa. She has worked in newsrooms in Johannesburg, Nairobi and Washington, DC, winning more than 30 awards for her radio, print and television work.
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/November 14, 2024
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/October 28, 2024
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/October 21, 2024
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/October 15, 2024
Thatego Mashabela is a multimedia producer at Bhekisisa.
- Thatego Mashabelahttps://bhekisisa.org/author/thategom/October 28, 2024
- Thatego Mashabelahttps://bhekisisa.org/author/thategom/October 15, 2024
- Thatego Mashabelahttps://bhekisisa.org/author/thategom/September 30, 2024
- Thatego Mashabelahttps://bhekisisa.org/author/thategom/August 26, 2024
Yolanda Mdzeke is a multimedia reporter at Bhekisisa.
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/October 28, 2024
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/October 15, 2024
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/October 4, 2024
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/October 3, 2024
An award-winning editor and producer with over 22 years in broadcasting, Floris Kotze tells compelling stories that connect with viewers. Inducted into the South African Guild of Editors, he brings creativity, attention to detail, experience and a sharp eye to every frame.
- Floris Kotzehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/floris-kotze/October 28, 2024
Ruan Visser is a South African-based freelance director of photography, crafting visual narratives with a keen eye for detail and a love for cinematic storytelling.
- Ruan Visserhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/ruanv/October 28, 2024
- Ruan Visserhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/ruanv/October 15, 2024
- Ruan Visserhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/ruanv/September 30, 2024
- Ruan Visserhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/ruanv/August 26, 2024
Health Beat examines South Africa’s drug policy and finds out why policing and health are operating in silos, instead of following our National Drug Master Plan.
Anna-Maria van Niekerk is Bhekisisa’s news editor. She joined the centre after six years as the managing editor of the investigative television show, Carte Blanche. Anna-Maria has an extensive career in in-depth health and human rights reporting and has been named both the Vodacom Journalist (2002) and Discovery Health Journalist of the Year (2010) for exposés on the selling of human body parts for muti in Limpopo and the devastating consequences of HIV denialism.
- Anna-Maria van Niekerkhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/anna-m/November 1, 2024
- Anna-Maria van Niekerkhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/anna-m/October 15, 2024
- Anna-Maria van Niekerkhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/anna-m/October 3, 2024
- Anna-Maria van Niekerkhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/anna-m/September 30, 2024
Jessica Pitchford is Bhekisisa's TV and multimedia editor. She's been a journalist since the early nineties and has reported on some pivotal events in South Africa’s political history, such as the country’s transition to democracy and the work of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission.
- Jessica Pitchfordhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/jessica-pitchford/November 1, 2024
- Jessica Pitchfordhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/jessica-pitchford/October 15, 2024
- Jessica Pitchfordhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/jessica-pitchford/October 3, 2024
- Jessica Pitchfordhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/jessica-pitchford/September 30, 2024
Mia Malan is the founder and editor-in-chief of Bhekisisa. She has worked in newsrooms in Johannesburg, Nairobi and Washington, DC, winning more than 30 awards for her radio, print and television work.
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/November 14, 2024
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/November 1, 2024
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/October 21, 2024
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/October 15, 2024
Thatego Mashabela is a multimedia producer at Bhekisisa.
- Thatego Mashabelahttps://bhekisisa.org/author/thategom/November 1, 2024
- Thatego Mashabelahttps://bhekisisa.org/author/thategom/October 15, 2024
- Thatego Mashabelahttps://bhekisisa.org/author/thategom/September 30, 2024
- Thatego Mashabelahttps://bhekisisa.org/author/thategom/August 26, 2024
Yolanda Mdzeke is a multimedia reporter at Bhekisisa.
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/November 1, 2024
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/October 15, 2024
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/October 4, 2024
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/October 3, 2024
Ruan Visser is a South African-based freelance director of photography, crafting visual narratives with a keen eye for detail and a love for cinematic storytelling.
- Ruan Visserhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/ruanv/November 1, 2024
- Ruan Visserhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/ruanv/October 15, 2024
- Ruan Visserhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/ruanv/September 30, 2024
- Ruan Visserhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/ruanv/August 26, 2024
An award-winning editor and producer with over 22 years in broadcasting, Floris Kotze tells compelling stories that connect with viewers. Inducted into the South African Guild of Editors, he brings creativity, attention to detail, experience and a sharp eye to every frame.
- Floris Kotzehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/floris-kotze/November 1, 2024
A new proposal that aims to get more women to breastfeed, says it could cut back the greenhouse gas emissions that lead to global warming and get countries that produce the bulk of emissions to pay for it.
Tanya Pampalone is Bhekisisa's business development consultant and climate health newsletter editor. Pampalone is the former managing editor of the Global Investigative Journalism Network, executive editor of the Mail & Guardian and head of partnerships and audience development for The Conversation Africa. Now a communications, strategy and fundraising consultant, she works with non-profit and mission-driven media groups in San Francisco and Johannesburg.
- Tanya Pampalonehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/tanya-pampalone/August 8, 2024
- Tanya Pampalonehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/tanya-pampalone/May 24, 2024
- Tanya Pampalonehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/tanya-pampalone/April 17, 2024
- Tanya Pampalonehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/tanya-pampalone/March 13, 2024
Zane Wilson founded the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag) in 1994, in the midst of her own debilitating struggle with panic disorder. Thirty years later, the group is the largest and most impactful mental health organisation in South Africa. Bhekisisa’s Sean Christie found Wilson and several of Sadag’s staff in a proud and reflective mood.
Sean Christie is a freelance journalist and author.
- Sean Christiehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/seanchristie/August 19, 2024
- Sean Christiehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/seanchristie/August 13, 2024
- Sean Christiehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/seanchristie/July 5, 2024
- Sean Christiehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/seanchristie/June 4, 2024
Gilead Sciences, the maker of a twice-a year anti-HIV injection, has approached South Africa’s medicine regulator to discuss how to get the shot registered locally as fast as possible in the country. Sahpra will have to work with the European Medicines Agency on this, as it’s severely understaffed and unable to review medicines speedily.
Mia Malan is the founder and editor-in-chief of Bhekisisa. She has worked in newsrooms in Johannesburg, Nairobi and Washington, DC, winning more than 30 awards for her radio, print and television work.
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/November 14, 2024
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/November 1, 2024
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/October 28, 2024
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/October 15, 2024
For the past decade, the Chiawelo Community Practice (CCP) in Soweto has tested how primary healthcare that starts within communities through things like exercise groups can keep people healthy. The project was started by Wits University family physici …
Anna-Maria van Niekerk is Bhekisisa’s news editor. She joined the centre after six years as the managing editor of the investigative television show, Carte Blanche. Anna-Maria has an extensive career in in-depth health and human rights reporting and has been named both the Vodacom Journalist (2002) and Discovery Health Journalist of the Year (2010) for exposés on the selling of human body parts for muti in Limpopo and the devastating consequences of HIV denialism.
- Anna-Maria van Niekerkhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/anna-m/November 1, 2024
- Anna-Maria van Niekerkhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/anna-m/October 28, 2024
- Anna-Maria van Niekerkhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/anna-m/October 3, 2024
- Anna-Maria van Niekerkhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/anna-m/September 30, 2024
Jessica Pitchford is Bhekisisa's TV and multimedia editor. She's been a journalist since the early nineties and has reported on some pivotal events in South Africa’s political history, such as the country’s transition to democracy and the work of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission.
- Jessica Pitchfordhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/jessica-pitchford/November 1, 2024
- Jessica Pitchfordhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/jessica-pitchford/October 28, 2024
- Jessica Pitchfordhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/jessica-pitchford/October 3, 2024
- Jessica Pitchfordhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/jessica-pitchford/September 30, 2024
Mia Malan is the founder and editor-in-chief of Bhekisisa. She has worked in newsrooms in Johannesburg, Nairobi and Washington, DC, winning more than 30 awards for her radio, print and television work.
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/November 14, 2024
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/November 1, 2024
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/October 28, 2024
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/October 21, 2024
Yolanda Mdzeke is a multimedia reporter at Bhekisisa.
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/November 1, 2024
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/October 28, 2024
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/October 4, 2024
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/October 3, 2024
Thatego Mashabela is a multimedia producer at Bhekisisa.
- Thatego Mashabelahttps://bhekisisa.org/author/thategom/November 1, 2024
- Thatego Mashabelahttps://bhekisisa.org/author/thategom/October 28, 2024
- Thatego Mashabelahttps://bhekisisa.org/author/thategom/September 30, 2024
- Thatego Mashabelahttps://bhekisisa.org/author/thategom/August 26, 2024
Katleho Morabe is a cinematographer and editor in film, television and advertising with credits on local (Carte Blanche) and international productions (Walt Disney).
- Katleho Morabehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/katlehom/September 30, 2024
Ruan Visser is a South African-based freelance director of photography, crafting visual narratives with a keen eye for detail and a love for cinematic storytelling.
- Ruan Visserhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/ruanv/November 1, 2024
- Ruan Visserhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/ruanv/October 28, 2024
- Ruan Visserhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/ruanv/September 30, 2024
- Ruan Visserhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/ruanv/August 26, 2024
By the end of August, 1.65-million HIV-negative people in South Africa had used the anti-HIV pill at least once, making the country’s HIV prevention pill programme the world’s largest. We break down South Africa’s latest anti-HIV pill numbers and explain how they fit into global targets.
Mia Malan is the founder and editor-in-chief of Bhekisisa. She has worked in newsrooms in Johannesburg, Nairobi and Washington, DC, winning more than 30 awards for her radio, print and television work.
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/November 14, 2024
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/November 1, 2024
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/October 28, 2024
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/October 21, 2024
Linda Pretorius is Bhekisisa’s content editor. She has a PhD in biosystems from the University of Pretoria has been working as a science writer, editor and proofreader in the book industry and for academic journals over the past 15 years. At Bhekisisa she helps authors to shape and develop their stories to pack a punch.
- Linda Pretoriushttps://bhekisisa.org/author/linda-pretorius/November 14, 2024
- Linda Pretoriushttps://bhekisisa.org/author/linda-pretorius/October 10, 2024
- Linda Pretoriushttps://bhekisisa.org/author/linda-pretorius/September 13, 2024
- Linda Pretoriushttps://bhekisisa.org/author/linda-pretorius/July 31, 2024
Zano Kunene is a health journalist at Bhekisisa.
- Zano Kunenehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/zanokunene/November 7, 2024
- Zano Kunenehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/zanokunene/September 27, 2024
- Zano Kunenehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/zanokunene/September 18, 2024
- Zano Kunenehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/zanokunene/August 28, 2024
A woman’s chance of being killed in the Eastern Cape is almost double what it is in the country as a whole and about half as likely in Limpopo as in the rest of South Africa, results from the South African Medical Research Council’s fourth survey on femicide, reveal.
Linda Pretorius is Bhekisisa’s content editor. She has a PhD in biosystems from the University of Pretoria has been working as a science writer, editor and proofreader in the book industry and for academic journals over the past 15 years. At Bhekisisa she helps authors to shape and develop their stories to pack a punch.
- Linda Pretoriushttps://bhekisisa.org/author/linda-pretorius/November 14, 2024
- Linda Pretoriushttps://bhekisisa.org/author/linda-pretorius/October 11, 2024
- Linda Pretoriushttps://bhekisisa.org/author/linda-pretorius/September 13, 2024
- Linda Pretoriushttps://bhekisisa.org/author/linda-pretorius/July 31, 2024
By the end of October, Business Unity South Africa (Busa) will submit a proposal to President Cyril Rampahosa with solutions to their concerns about the National Health Insurance Act. This follows a September meeting with the president. But is there hope for change? In this podcast, Mia Malan asks Ramaphosa’s special advisor, Olive Shisana, and Busa CEO, Cas Coovadia, what to expect.
Mia Malan is the founder and editor-in-chief of Bhekisisa. She has worked in newsrooms in Johannesburg, Nairobi and Washington, DC, winning more than 30 awards for her radio, print and television work.
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/November 14, 2024
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/November 1, 2024
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/October 28, 2024
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/October 21, 2024
Danny Booysen is a freelance audio technical producer and has over 30 years of experience in the broadcast industry.
- Danny Booysenhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/danny-booysen/June 18, 2024
- Danny Booysenhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/danny-booysen/November 10, 2023
- Danny Booysenhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/danny-booysen/March 23, 2023
- Danny Booysenhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/danny-booysen/February 2, 2023
Yolanda Mdzeke is a multimedia reporter at Bhekisisa.
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/November 1, 2024
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/October 28, 2024
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/October 15, 2024
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/October 3, 2024
Will patients be able to get quality healthcare from public hospitals once the National Health Insurance is in place — whether for lifesaving operations like heart surgery or routine check-ups for things like blood pressure or diabetes? Bhekisisa’s Health Beat team talks to a patient and his doctor at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital about their experiences — and what state hospitals can offer if run well.
Yolanda Mdzeke is a multimedia reporter at Bhekisisa.
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/November 1, 2024
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/October 28, 2024
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/October 15, 2024
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/October 4, 2024
Jessica Pitchford is Bhekisisa's TV and multimedia editor. She's been a journalist since the early nineties and has reported on some pivotal events in South Africa’s political history, such as the country’s transition to democracy and the work of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission.
- Jessica Pitchfordhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/jessica-pitchford/November 1, 2024
- Jessica Pitchfordhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/jessica-pitchford/October 28, 2024
- Jessica Pitchfordhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/jessica-pitchford/October 15, 2024
- Jessica Pitchfordhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/jessica-pitchford/September 30, 2024
Anna-Maria van Niekerk is Bhekisisa’s news editor. She joined the centre after six years as the managing editor of the investigative television show, Carte Blanche. Anna-Maria has an extensive career in in-depth health and human rights reporting and has been named both the Vodacom Journalist (2002) and Discovery Health Journalist of the Year (2010) for exposés on the selling of human body parts for muti in Limpopo and the devastating consequences of HIV denialism.
- Anna-Maria van Niekerkhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/anna-m/November 1, 2024
- Anna-Maria van Niekerkhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/anna-m/October 28, 2024
- Anna-Maria van Niekerkhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/anna-m/October 15, 2024
- Anna-Maria van Niekerkhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/anna-m/September 30, 2024