Health e News
South Africa is facing a hunger crisis. This is according to recent submissions by advocacy groups to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC)’s Inquiry into the country’s food system. The first phase of the inquiry was held in March this year, and heard evidence from civil society organisations and government institutions. The second phase in July turned the focus to the private sector across the food chain, including farmers, food manufacturers and retailers. Submissions by the Human Sciences Research Council of South Africa (HSRC) included findings that more than a thousand children died last year because of preventable acute malnutrition, and an estimated 14 million people in the country go hungry. Over the coming weeks, Health-e News will share the stories of people behind these statistics in an eight-part series, Hungry For Change, looking at the difficult choices families make when there is not enough money for food. Our
A recent Health-e News publication of a 20-year old Limpopo mother who alleges that doctors removed her womb without her knowledge or consent after childbirth, has raised questions about when an emergency hysterectomy may be necessary and what patients’ rights are. We asked Prof Leon Snyman, of the South African Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (SASOG) and Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Kalafong Provincial Hospital, to explain when this life-saving operation may be needed and what the law says about consent. What is an emergency hysterectomy? An emergency hysterectomy is the unscheduled surgical removal of the uterus or part of the uterus — usually during or immediately after childbirth — as a potential life-saving procedure. This will only happen when life-threatening complications arise that cannot be controlled by any other means. An emergency hysterectomy is a last-resort, life-saving operation, not a routine part of childbirth and never as part
- ///Explainer, Health
Every minute during a stroke, an estimated two million brain cells can die. To mark World Brain Day on 22 July, Health-e News asked leading stroke neurologist, Dr Pradeep Rowji from the Neurological Association of South Africa to answer common questions about recognising a stroke, acting quickly, protecting brain health and improving access to care. Did you know? Up to 90% of strokes are linked to risk factors that can be prevented or better managed, including high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and smoking. South Africa has fewer than 200 neurologists for more than 60 million people, and specialist services are unevenly distributed. According to Dr Rowji, patients may face long journeys, delayed referrals and limited access to diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation. What is a stroke? A stroke happens when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted. This may be caused by a blocked blood vessel, known as
A recent Health-e News report on allegations by a young Limpopo mother, who says doctors removed her uterus without her knowledge or consent, raises questions about patients’ rights before undergoing sterilisation procedures. Here’s what South African law says about consent and sterilisation. What is sterilisation and who can perform it? Is sterilisation permanent? What is informed consent and when is it valid? What is forced and coerced sterilisation? Do you believe your rights have been violated? Read Next: A young Limpopo mother says doctors removed her uterus without her knowledge or consent. Young Limpopo mother: ‘womb removed without my knowledge or consent’ Training for healthcare workers on informed consent In 2023, the Commission for Gender Equality called the National Department of Health to account for delays in implementing recommendations from its investigation into the forced sterilisation of HIV-positive black women. In early 2026, the Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS)
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What is measles and why is it in the news? Cases are rising in South Africa, with 2,476 laboratory-confirmed infections recorded between late December 2025 and June this year.. This highly contagious viral infection spreads easily, especially among unvaccinated individuals. The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has reported additional cases since its previous report on 22 June, indicating ongoing transmissions across several provinces. Laboratory-confirmed measles cases detected between 29 December 2025 to 21 June 2026, by province in South Africa. Data shows the highest number of new cases was reported in the Free State, followed by the Western Cape and Gauteng. Source: NICD Who is most affected? Most cases reported over this period were children under 14, with the highest number among children aged five to nine, followed by younger children under five. The NICD has also recorded a rise in cases among people older than 15, including adults, suggesting
South Africa hosted approximately 2.4 million international migrants as of 2022, accounting for 3.9% of the population. Most come from the Southern African Development Community region including Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho, Malawi – countries with which South Africa shares deep economic, cultural, and historical ties. Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) notes explicitly that immigrants “play a role in South Africa’s economy, contributing to economic growth, and diversity.” By comparison, 8.1 million South Africans have moved between provinces according to the same Stats SA report. Internal migration, therefore, accounts for a substantially larger movement of people within South Africa than international migration, and both forms of population mobility require effective planning and resource allocation, including for health services. Xenophobia has a history within democratic South Africa dating back to the early 1990s. Increasing anger and frustration with unemployment, poor service delivery and a sense of abandonment by government is channelled towards migrants
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