Health-e News

Health-e News Health-e News is a non-profit, online publication focused on pressing health issues in South Africa.

We centre community voices through our network of nationwide community journalists.

06/03/2026

[CORRECTION]: An earlier version of the story incorrectly stated that Siyabonga was 8 years old. We have since updated the story to reflect his correct age, which was 13.

13-year-old Siyabonga Maluleke from Muyexe village near Giyani drowned in an abandoned borrow pit (a large hole in the ground where soil or sand was taken for a building project).

The pit was dug during an 8.5km road project started by the National Department of Rural Development and Land Reform years ago. The project stopped and was never handed over.

After heavy rains, the pit filled with water and community members say it became a dangerous swimming spot for children.

Now his family and community are calling for accountability.

Find out more at the link in bio via đź”—

06/03/2026

[WATCH] In 2017, Sharon Mbonani, lost her one-month-old baby. 💔She thinks the polluted air in eMbalenhle, Mpumalanga, South Africa’s coal heartland, may have contributed to her baby’s death.

Her other son suffered respiratory problems, including an infection in the throat for years until she moved him out of eMbalenhle.

“It was a terrible experience where you have just lost your child, and you are on the verge of losing another.”

Mpumalanga supplies more than 80% of the country’s coal. About 11 of Eskom’s 14 coal-fired power plants were in the province as of April 2024.

According to The Lancet 2025 Countdown Report, SA had the highest mortality rate from coal-related air pollution in Africa.

“There is a lot of injustice in our community. We are sick, and we want investments in our community,” Sharon says.

Find out more in the comments via Farai Shawn Matiashe đź”— Greenpeace Africa International Energy Agency (IEA)

06/03/2026

[WATCH] In 2017, Sharon Mbonani lost her one-month-old baby. đź’” She believes the air pollution in her community could be linked to what happened.

Her other son suffered respiratory problems, including an infection in the throat for years until she moved him out of eMbalenhle, Mpumalanga, home to most of South Africa’s coal-fired power plants.

“It was a terrible experience where you have just lost your child, and you are on the verge of losing another. I had to sacrifice raising him in a healthy environment,” she says.

South Africa has the highest mortality rate from coal-related air pollution in Africa, according to the 2025 Countdown Report.

Find out more at the link in bio via Farai Shawn Matiashe.đź”—

05/03/2026

[CORRECTION]: An earlier version of the story incorrectly stated that Siyabonga was 8 years old. We have since updated the story to reflect his correct age, which was 13.

A 13-year-old boy from Muyexe village near Giyani drowned in an abandoned borrow pit filled with rainwater.

Siyabonga Maluleke, from Muyexe Primary School, was last seen on 18 February after coming home from school. When he did not return that evening, his family started searching. His body was found the next day.

A borrow pit is a large hole in the ground where soil or sand was taken for a building project.

This one was left behind during an 8.5km road project started by the National Department of Rural Development and Land Reform during former president Jacob Zuma’s era. The project was never completed.

After heavy rains, the hole filled with water. Community members say it became dangerous for children.

Now, Siyabonga’s family and residents are demanding answers.

Find out more in the comments via Focus Baloyiđź”—

04/03/2026

[WATCH] Nearly 200 people living in tents at Durban’s North Beach have tested positive for TB.

Health authorities have confirmed an outbreak at the homeless camp and sent screening teams to test residents and start treatment. Contact tracing is also underway.

Residents say overcrowding is a major problem. Sandile Zulu (24) says around 100 people sleep in one tent, making it easy for TB to spread.

TB spreads through the air, especially in crowded spaces.

Find out more in the comments via Phumzile Mkhungo đź”—

04/03/2026

[WATCH] Nearly 200 people living in tents at North Beach in Durban have tested positive for TB.

Health authorities are now on site at the homeless camp, testing residents and starting treatment. They are also tracing close contacts to limit further spread.

“We sleep in one tent with about 100 people. It is easy for TB to spread,” says 24-year-old Sandile Zulu.

TB spreads through the air, especially in crowded spaces.

Find out more at the link in bio via .phumzile188 đź”—

03/03/2026

[WATCH] Imagine going to school and everyday for for nine months, you go back home at 9am.

That has been the reality at Kgorathuto Secondary School in Botshabelo in the Free State. Since May 2025, the school has had ongoing water shortages, making the toilets unusable. Learners arrived for registers to be taken and were then sent home.

“We cannot be satisfied that our kids don’t get an education,” says parent Mpho Tseisi.

After numerous demonstrations by parents, the municipality last week donated a 10,000-litre JoJo tank and stationed a water truck at the school. Officials say they are investigating low water pressure in Section D.

The school also had to suspend preparing meals for its nutrition programme.

“Some children hope to have their only meal at school”, says 18-year-old learner Moeketsi Maibi.

Parents and teachers say the entire Section D community in Botshabelo has been affected.

Find out more in the comments via Molefi Sompane đź”— Free State dept of education

27/02/2026

[WATCH] Last week, the conversation around menstrual products shifted.

Researchers at the tested 16 brands of sanitary pads and eight pantyliners sold in local stores.

They may increase the risk of health problems like fertility issues and certain cancers over time.

The National Consumer Commission has confirmed it is now investigating nine suppliers of sanitary pads and tampons.

“Minister of Menstruation’ and gender equity advocate says distribution programmes that many learners rely on cannot simply be paused. “Safety must become the baseline.”

Find out more at the link in bio via đź”—

27/02/2026

[WATCH] Last week, the conversation around menstrual products shifted.

Researchers at the University of the Free State tested 16 brands of sanitary pads and eight pantyliners sold in local stores.

They may increase the risk of health problems like fertility issues and certain cancers over time.

The National Consumer Commission has confirmed it is now investigating nine suppliers of sanitary pads and tampons.

'Minister of Menstruation’ and gender equity advocate Candice Chirwa says distribution programmes that many learners rely on cannot simply be paused. "Safety must become the baseline".

Find out more in the comments via Faith Mutizirađź”—

27/02/2026

[WATCH] 3 500 patients a month but no working toilets.

That’s the situation at Phuthanang Clinic in Tsakane.

After staff went on a go-slow over the ongoing toilet problems, the City of Ekurhuleni temporarily reassigned health workers and redirected patients to nearby clinics.

One patient says the toilet issue has lasted “more than three years”.

The city says it cannot expose workers and the public to a facility without proper sanitation. It’s unclear when the toilets will be fixed.

Patients have been told to go to other healthcare facilities.

Have you experienced broken toilets at your clinic?

Tell us more in the comments via Polotso Thulo đź”—

[OPINION] 5.6 million South Africans are living with . But the did not set aside specific funding to deal with it.Dr...
26/02/2026

[OPINION] 5.6 million South Africans are living with . But the did not set aside specific funding to deal with it.

Dr Patrick Ngassa Piotie, Chairperson of the Diabetes Alliance , says the budget does not reflect the country’s changing health reality.

But there is no dedicated funding for non-communicable diseases, even though diabetes is now the leading underlying natural cause of death in South Africa.

One of the biggest gaps was that the Minister did not mention or increase the Health Promotion Levy (HPL), also known as the “sugar tax”.

The HPL aims to reduce sugar intake and lower obesity, one of the main causes of diseases like diabetes and heart disease.

By 2030, managing diabetes could cost R35.1 billion, with much of that going to preventable complications like amputations and kidney failure.

Find out more in the comments.đź”—

Floods in parts of Limpopo have left more than damaged homes behind. In communities already worried about rising mosquit...
26/02/2026

Floods in parts of Limpopo have left more than damaged homes behind.

In communities already worried about rising mosquito numbers, health officials are closely monitoring malaria risk in the weeks after the heavy rains.🦟

Here’s what usually happens after a flooding event and how you can protect yourself.

Find out more in the comments via Focus Baloyi and Judas Mohale-Sekwelađź”—

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Health-e News is South Africa's only independent health news agency, supplying the country with news from cities and villages via a network of citizen journalists and experienced, award-winning TV and print journalists.