South Africa
In a key step to tackle one of South Africa’s biggest health challenges, Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi and National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza led the relaunch of the South African TB Caucus today in Parliament. The event, held on Tuesday, 28 October 2025, aims to rally lawmakers and partners in the ongoing battle against tuberculosis (TB), a curable illness that still kills thousands every year. This move comes as the country grapples with high TB rates, made worse by HIV, and seeks to meet global goals for cutting cases and deaths. The relaunch highlights a team effort between government, Parliament, and groups like the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC), showing hope for better treatment and awareness.
The Heavy Toll of TB in South Africa
TB remains a silent killer in the country, topping the list as the main cause of death for many years. In 2023, it claimed around 56,000 lives, even though it can be prevented and cured with the right care. South Africa ranks among the top 30 high-burden TB nations worldwide, with about 270,000 new cases each year. What makes it tougher is the link with HIV—nearly 60% of people with TB also live with HIV, creating a double health blow that hits hard in communities.
Recent stats show some progress, but the fight is far from over. Between 2015 and 2023, TB cases dropped by 51%, from 552,000 to 270,000, thanks to wider access to HIV treatment. Deaths fell by 16% in the same period, but only 79% of cases get treated fully. In 2022, over 65,000 people with TB went undiagnosed or untreated, often called the “missing” cases. Treatment success stands at about 77% for diagnosed cases, but gaps in follow-up mean many slip through the cracks. Kids are at high risk too—a recent study found many face infection early on, adding to the urgency. Globally, TB causes over 10 million new cases and 1.25 million deaths yearly, but South Africa’s numbers stay stubbornly high despite efforts.
What is the South African TB Caucus?
The caucus is the local arm of the Global TB Caucus, a worldwide network of lawmakers working together without party lines to push for better TB care. It helps create rules and settings that make TB services easier to get, boosts research for new tools, raises awareness, and gathers funds from different groups. In South Africa, it gives MPs a space to lead political moves against the disease and hold everyone accountable for promises made on TB.
Run by SANAC as the in-country office, the caucus works with the Department of Health and the TB Accountability Consortium to keep things moving. It builds on global efforts, like the African TB Caucus launched years ago, which brought leaders from 20 countries to fight the disease across borders. The group focuses on high-burden spots, pushing for more testing, shorter treatments, and vaccines in trials, like the M72/AS01E one running in South Africa.
Building on Past Work: From Sixth to Seventh Administration
The idea for a South African chapter started in the last Parliament, where both the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces saw TB as a top killer and health issue. They agreed to set up the caucus to keep the momentum going. Today’s relaunch picks up that thread in the seventh administration, showing a steady commitment to end the epidemic.
This fits into wider plans, like the National TB Recovery Plan 4.0 for 2025-2026, which aims to test five million people—up from 2.8 million in 2023—focusing on high-risk groups like those with HIV. Recent steps include a new TB campaign launched by Motsoaledi last week to find hidden cases and improve testing. The caucus will help track these efforts and push for more funds, especially with worries over cuts to global aid like PEPFAR, which covers 17% of HIV/TB services here.
Today’s Relaunch: Key Events and Debate
The relaunch kicked off with a media breakfast hosted by Motsoaledi and Didiza, setting the tone for stronger teamwork against TB. Held in Cape Town’s Parliament, it gathered MPs, health experts, and partners to renew their pledge. Later today, Motsoaledi will lead a National Assembly debate on “The Status of TB in South Africa,” diving into current challenges and wins.
Other Parliament work today ties in, like the Standing Committee on Appropriations hearing from the Department of Health on funding for the National Health Insurance (NHI) and a $115 million boost for HIV/TB programmes. They will also talk about filling key health jobs to strengthen the system. This all happens during a busy week focused on regional ties, government checks, and budget oversight.
Global View: Progress in Africa and Beyond
South Africa stands out in Africa for its gains, cutting TB cases by 50% since 2015—the first in the region to hit that 2025 World Health Organization (WHO) goal. The continent as a whole saw TB deaths drop by 42% and cases by 24% in the same time, with countries like Mozambique and Tanzania reaching a 75% cut in deaths. But gaps remain, with only 74% treatment coverage and big funding shortfalls—Africa has just $0.9 billion of the $4.5 billion needed yearly.
Worldwide, the WHO’s End TB Strategy calls for a 90% drop in cases and 95% in deaths by 2035. South Africa’s National Strategic Plan (2023-2028) lines up with this, but faces hurdles like drug-resistant TB and poor data systems. A new vaccine could change the game, preventing millions of cases if it works.
Challenges Ahead and Calls for Action
Despite wins, TB testing positivity fell from 10.7% in 2021 to 7% in 2023, but a million samples get rejected yearly due to quality issues. About 22% of diagnosed people do not start treatment, and resistant cases need better follow-up. The University of Cape Town notes the dual HIV-TB load as a major barrier, with over 10 million global cases in 2023.
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