News and analysis

On 10 July, Judge Mmonoa Teffo handed down judgment of the inquest into the deaths of 141 mental health patients of the state who...

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.

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.

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?

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.

The health department will start to vaccinate four groups of people — men who have sex with men, sex workers, health and lab workers — with a much higher chance than the general population to contract the monkeypox virus, which causes mpox disease, as soon as donations arrive in South Africa.

A rural Eastern Cape health centre has had to close its doors at night because of crime and dry taps. But neither the local municipality, police or provincial health department say they’re to blame.

From early next year, the health department could look to start using tests that can show if the genetic make-up of tuberculosis (TB) germs has changed in such a way that they could be resistant to antibiotics. This was from a presentation at the 8th South African TB Conference in Durban on Wednesday. Zano Kunene has more.

It’s World No Tobacco Day. Why the fuss? Because, a new World Health Organisation report says, Big Tobacco is using clever marketing ploys to get young people hooked on new-generation products like vapes and nicotine pouches. Here’s how South African tobacco laws have changed over the past three decades — and what they could become. Will it be enough to keep our kids safe?

Eskom will keep three coal-fired power plants running until 2030 instead of starting to shut them down, as promised. This sets back South Africa’s international commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 to help keep global warming at bay. How does your party plan to fight climate change?

Governments around the world use social grants to help the poor. It’s no different in South Africa. But what happens if the help is not enough? Find out from a family in the rural Eastern Cape.

The signing of the National Health Insurance Bill on Wednesday doesn’t necessarily guarantee that it will become law, especially if the ANC loses power. A law expert says a new government may decide not to implement it and repeal the new NHI Act if they don’t agree with the law, but to do that they would need the majority of votes in the National Assembly.

Governments have the power to make decisions that can mean the difference between life and death when it comes to health matters. Watch four politicians say what they’ll do to fix South Africa’s health system after the 29 May elections and answer questions from civil society and public health advocates.

Governments have the power to decide whether people live or die when it comes to health. On 29 May your vote will determine how well South Africa’s post-election government will look after your health. Today, we’re launching a series of analyses to break down what parties say they will do to fix the country’s health system.

A new tuberculosis vaccine is being tested in South Africa as part of a large trial in which about 20 000 people from seven countries will get their shots. We visited a rural site in KwaZulu-Natal to see how it is being rolled out.

About one in five teens in South Africa are overweight or have obesity, with eating unhealthy foods being a big part of the problem. But changing policies to make cities healthier can help school kids eat better — and set them up for a healthier future. Cape Town is part of a project to do this.