Around 10% of South Africa’s 280 000 TB cases in 2022 were in children. But because it’s so difficult to diagnose the disease in this group, four in ten kids with TB aren’t treated. Researchers at the National Health Laboratory Service were planning to test a new way to find the bug in kids later this month — until a cyberattack put a spanner in the works.
Zano Kunene is a health journalist at Bhekisisa.
- Zano Kunenehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/zanokunene/December 12, 2024
- Zano Kunenehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/zanokunene/November 20, 2024
- Zano Kunenehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/zanokunene/November 16, 2024
- Zano Kunenehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/zanokunene/November 7, 2024
An inquest has found that Gauteng’s former health MEC, Qedani Mahlangu, and former head of mental health, Makgabo Manamela, can be held responsible for the death of Christine Nxumalo’s sister, Virginia Machpelah. Nxumalo was one of the first Life Esidimeni family members who spoke out about the death of a loved one. But it came at a devastatingly high cost. Here’s why.
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On 10 July, Judge Mmonoa Teffo handed down judgment of the inquest into the deaths of 141 mental health patients of the state who died in 2016 and 2017 when they were moved from Life Esidimeni facilities. She has found that former Gauteng Health MEC, Q …
- Bhekisisa Teamhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/bhekisisa-team/January 23, 2025
- Bhekisisa Teamhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/bhekisisa-team/January 22, 2025
- Bhekisisa Teamhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/bhekisisa-team/January 21, 2025
- Bhekisisa Teamhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/bhekisisa-team/December 1, 2024
Media Hack are a group of independent journalists who just love a good story. They're dedicated to quality journalism and the craft of digital storytelling. While they specialise in data-driven and narrative journalism, they’re a multi-talented bunch able to harness decades of journalism skills, combining them with state-of-the-art programming and presentation to create stories for all sorts of screens. They initiate their own media projects, but they also offer their services to civil society organisations and corporate social responsibility projects with a story to tell.
- Media Hackhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/media-hack/July 23, 2024
- Media Hackhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/media-hack/July 10, 2024
- Media Hackhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/media-hack/July 12, 2021
- Media Hackhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/media-hack/May 7, 2021
The findings of a legal inquest set up to decide whether there is enough evidence to prosecute Gauteng health department officials and workers of nonprofits for criminal charges, will be released today. The inquest revolves around the unnatural deaths of 141 out of 144 government mental health patients who died when they were transferred from private psychiatric hospitals in Gauteng, Life Esidimeni, to community organisations.
- Bhekisisa Teamhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/bhekisisa-team/January 23, 2025
- Bhekisisa Teamhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/bhekisisa-team/January 22, 2025
- Bhekisisa Teamhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/bhekisisa-team/January 21, 2025
- Bhekisisa Teamhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/bhekisisa-team/December 1, 2024
Media Hack are a group of independent journalists who just love a good story. They're dedicated to quality journalism and the craft of digital storytelling. While they specialise in data-driven and narrative journalism, they’re a multi-talented bunch able to harness decades of journalism skills, combining them with state-of-the-art programming and presentation to create stories for all sorts of screens. They initiate their own media projects, but they also offer their services to civil society organisations and corporate social responsibility projects with a story to tell.
- Media Hackhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/media-hack/July 23, 2024
- Media Hackhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/media-hack/July 10, 2024
- Media Hackhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/media-hack/July 12, 2021
- Media Hackhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/media-hack/May 7, 2021
Four days after our TV show, Health Beat, was broadcast on eNCA — the Freedom Recovery Centre, which helps drug users sober up, got confirmation from the Gauteng government that they would receive the subsidy they had been waiting for for months. Without it, they would have had to close their doors.
Cebelihle Bhengu was a TV health reporter/producer for Health Beat from May to July 2024.
- Cebelihle Bhenguhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/cebelihleb/August 5, 2024
- Cebelihle Bhenguhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/cebelihleb/July 30, 2024
- Cebelihle Bhenguhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/cebelihleb/July 3, 2024
- Cebelihle Bhenguhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/cebelihleb/June 3, 2024
Yolanda Mdzeke is a multimedia reporter at Bhekisisa.
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/January 30, 2025
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/January 27, 2025
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/January 17, 2025
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/December 3, 2024
Astra Rincón Montañez is a student at the Craig Newmark School of Journalism at City University of New York. She interned with the Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism from June to July 2024.
- Astra Rincón Montañezhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/astrarm/December 3, 2024
- Astra Rincón Montañezhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/astrarm/November 25, 2024
- Astra Rincón Montañezhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/astrarm/July 30, 2024
- Astra Rincón Montañezhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/astrarm/July 3, 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/January 27, 2025
- Jessica Pitchfordhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/jessica-pitchford/January 17, 2025
- Jessica Pitchfordhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/jessica-pitchford/December 3, 2024
- Jessica Pitchfordhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/jessica-pitchford/November 25, 2024
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi faces a massive challenge: rolling out a controversial NHI Act by a government of which only four out of 11 governing parties support the legislation. Does he have the skills? Mia Malan reports.
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/February 3, 2025
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/January 30, 2025
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/January 27, 2025
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/January 17, 2025
In February, Mzulungile Nodikida stepped into the top seat at the South African Medical Association. He tells Sean Christie how he went from playing soccer and cricket while at school in the Eastern Cape to studying medicine in Cuba — and how his career path moved from seeing patients every day to steering an organisation that stands for “uniting doctors for the health of the nation”.
Sean Christie is a freelance journalist and author.
- Sean Christiehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/seanchristie/January 13, 2025
- Sean Christiehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/seanchristie/October 22, 2024
- Sean Christiehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/seanchristie/August 19, 2024
- Sean Christiehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/seanchristie/August 13, 2024
Novo Nordisk has cited “capacity limitations” as its reason for deciding to stop supplying human insulin pens to the health department. But the company is now making more of its newer diabetes and weight-loss drugs — which it sells for much more than insulin. What happens when a pharma company decides to stop making lifesaving medication because it’s no longer profitable enough?
Christina Pitt is a health journalist at Bhekisisa.
- Christina Pitthttps://bhekisisa.org/author/christinapitt/November 2, 2024
- Christina Pitthttps://bhekisisa.org/author/christinapitt/September 20, 2024
- Christina Pitthttps://bhekisisa.org/author/christinapitt/September 6, 2024
- Christina Pitthttps://bhekisisa.org/author/christinapitt/August 15, 2024
Social development budgets in Gauteng have been steadily declining, from R2.13-billion in 2022/2023 to R1.9-billion this year. Non-profit organisations say funding they’ve relied on for years is halted without adequate explanation, leaving some of them with no option but to close, and residents with no alternative care.
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/January 27, 2025
- Jessica Pitchfordhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/jessica-pitchford/January 17, 2025
- Jessica Pitchfordhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/jessica-pitchford/December 3, 2024
- Jessica Pitchfordhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/jessica-pitchford/November 25, 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/February 3, 2025
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/January 30, 2025
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/January 27, 2025
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/January 17, 2025
Yolanda Mdzeke is a multimedia reporter at Bhekisisa.
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/January 30, 2025
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/January 27, 2025
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/January 17, 2025
- Yolanda Mdzekehttps://bhekisisa.org/author/yolanda/December 3, 2024
Thatego Mashabela is a multimedia producer at Bhekisisa.
- Thatego Mashabelahttps://bhekisisa.org/author/thategom/January 27, 2025
- Thatego Mashabelahttps://bhekisisa.org/author/thategom/January 17, 2025
- Thatego Mashabelahttps://bhekisisa.org/author/thategom/December 3, 2024
- Thatego Mashabelahttps://bhekisisa.org/author/thategom/November 25, 2024
Cebelihle Bhengu was a TV health reporter/producer for Health Beat from May to July 2024.
- Cebelihle Bhenguhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/cebelihleb/August 5, 2024
- Cebelihle Bhenguhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/cebelihleb/July 30, 2024
- Cebelihle Bhenguhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/cebelihleb/July 9, 2024
- Cebelihle Bhenguhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/cebelihleb/June 3, 2024
Hannah Glaser is a student at the Craig Newmark School of Journalism at City University of New York. She interned with the Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism from June to July 2024.
- Hannah Glaserhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/hannahg/December 3, 2024
- Hannah Glaserhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/hannahg/November 25, 2024
- Hannah Glaserhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/hannahg/July 30, 2024
Astra Rincón Montañez is a student at the Craig Newmark School of Journalism at City University of New York. She interned with the Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism from June to July 2024.
- Astra Rincón Montañezhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/astrarm/December 3, 2024
- Astra Rincón Montañezhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/astrarm/November 25, 2024
- Astra Rincón Montañezhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/astrarm/July 30, 2024
- Astra Rincón Montañezhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/astrarm/July 9, 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/January 17, 2025
- Ruan Visserhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/ruanv/November 1, 2024
- Ruan Visserhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/ruanv/October 28, 2024
- Ruan Visserhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/ruanv/October 15, 2024
Five political parties have pledged to work together in the government of national unity — but what does this mean for the future of the National Health Insurance Act? We asked some experts.
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/January 27, 2025
- Anna-Maria van Niekerkhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/anna-m/January 17, 2025
- Anna-Maria van Niekerkhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/anna-m/December 3, 2024
- Anna-Maria van Niekerkhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/anna-m/November 25, 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/February 6, 2025
- Linda Pretoriushttps://bhekisisa.org/author/linda-pretorius/December 10, 2024
- Linda Pretoriushttps://bhekisisa.org/author/linda-pretorius/November 22, 2024
- Linda Pretoriushttps://bhekisisa.org/author/linda-pretorius/November 14, 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/February 3, 2025
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/January 30, 2025
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/January 27, 2025
- Mia Malanhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/mia/January 17, 2025