South Africa Doubles Down on Fight Against TB: Deputy President Calls for United Action

Mashatile used the occasion to shine a spotlight on the often-overlooked social challenges tied to TB, particularly the stigma and discrimination that patients continue to endure.

Despite years of concerted efforts to reduce tuberculosis (TB) infections, South Africa continues to face one of the highest TB burdens in the world. During the national commemoration of World TB Day, Deputy President Paul Mashatile issued a passionate call for renewed urgency, unity, and community-driven action to eliminate this deadly disease.

Addressing citizens at the World TB Day event held in Gamalakhe Township, Ugu District in KwaZulu-Natal, the Deputy President, who also serves as Chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC), said TB remains one of the country’s most pressing public health challenges.

“South Africa is one of the 30 countries accounting for 87% of the global TB burden,” Mashatile said. “Yet, this is a disease that is preventable and curable—even among those living with HIV.”

Grim Statistics, Growing Concern

The scale of the crisis is staggering. In 2023 alone, approximately 270,000 South Africans were diagnosed with TB, and an estimated 56,000 people lost their lives to the disease—that’s about 153 deaths each day. More alarming is that about 58,000 people remain undiagnosed, living with TB without receiving the treatment they urgently need.

“These are our mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters,” Mashatile emphasized. “People who deserve care, dignity, and a chance to live healthy lives. We must reach them.”

Human Rights at the Forefront

Mashatile used the occasion to shine a spotlight on the often-overlooked social challenges tied to TB, particularly the stigma and discrimination that patients continue to endure. He reminded attendees that TB is not solely a medical issue—it is a human rights concern.

“Every person, regardless of their background, deserves access to life-saving treatment,” he stated.

To tackle these barriers, SANAC initiated the development of Human Rights Charters two years ago, aimed at protecting vulnerable and key populations affected by TB and HIV. While some provinces have embraced the initiative, others have yet to officially launch their charters, a delay that Mashatile urged must be urgently addressed.

The End TB Campaign: A Bold, National Drive

In line with this year’s World TB Day theme, government officially launched the End TB Campaign, a national effort aimed at testing five million people by the end of March 2026—and continuing to do so annually thereafter.

This aggressive testing strategy is projected to deliver major public health benefits, including a 29% reduction in TB incidence and a 41% drop in TB-related deaths by the year 2035.

The campaign focuses on four key objectives:

1. Raising awareness about TB symptoms, transmission, and treatment.
2. Promoting access to care, especially in under-resourced communities.
3. Advocating for research and innovation to improve diagnostics and treatment.
4. Strengthening partnerships across government, civil society, traditional leaders, and media.

“We will work with community leaders, traditional healers, and media platforms to spread the message that TB is preventable, treatable, and curable,” the Deputy President said.

A Call for Collective Action

Mashatile’s message was clear: the fight against TB cannot be won by government alone. It requires collective commitment from every South African.

“We unite as a nation with a shared purpose—to end tuberculosis,” he declared. “We must do this together. Our communities must know that support and treatment are available. No one should feel alone in this fight.”

He concluded with a powerful reminder of what is at stake: “TB still kills thousands of our people each year. But together, through decisive action and solidarity, we can change this story. We can save lives.”

As the End TB Campaign takes shape, South Africa stands at a crucial crossroad. With political will, community mobilization, and public participation, the country may finally be able to turn the tide against one of its deadliest diseases.