By BAKANG MOKOTO
26 March 2025- The Deputy President, Paul Mashatile said they joined the global community to commemorate World TB Day. Mashatile said they unite as a nation with a shared purpose, which is to end tuberculosis (TB).
He further said South Africa bears one of the highest TB burdens in the world, but they also stand on the threshold of real change. Mashatile added that they can end TB and together, they will.
“Two years ago, SANAC embarked on a process to develop Human Rights Charters for key populations in all provinces. These include Human Rights issues identified in communities. That process has now been completed, although some provinces are yet to launch their Charters.
“The Charters emphasise the need to protect TB and HIV-related human rights, particularly the need to address stigma against people with TB. The Human Rights hubs in the provinces, supported by AIDS Councils, will ensure that these issues are followed up and addressed,” he said.
Mashatile said there is a need to develop national-level plans for scaling up and institutionalising HIV, TB, and human rights training for health workers and law enforcers. He said the next financial year will be key in developing those plans.
“TB programmes remain under-served compared to HIV and human rights programmes. There is an urgent need to implement national-level TB stigma and discrimination reduction programmes and to engage community-level networks and organisations in district-level efforts.
“This will also be prioritised in the next financial year.
The Stigma Index Report by People Living with HIV is being finalised, and the recommendations from the survey will guide the country’s response to TB and HIV stigma,” said Mashatile.
He said that he is also aware that SANAC is in the process of developing the next human rights strategy for HIV and TB, which will strengthen and guide the country’s human rights interventions in alignment with Goal One of the National Strategic Plan for HIV, TB, and STIs, which speaks to breaking down barriers. Mashatile said TB continues to claim too many lives around the world.
“In South Africa in 2023, around 270 000 people were diagnosed with TB, and tragically, 56 000 lives were lost, which translates to 153 people every day. TB knows no boundaries—it affects people across all communities, but the burden falls most heavily on the poor and vulnerable.
“These are our mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters—people who deserve care and dignity. We must reach them! TB is not just a medical issue. It is a human rights issue,” he said.
The Guardian 