South Africa Marks Major Progress in TB Reduction - But Mortality and Inequality Remain Key Challenges

At the recent TB Summit in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, public health leaders, community organisations, and government partners came together to reflect on South Africa’s progress in tackling TB and to confront the key barriers that remain. The Summit underscored the urgent need for approaches that address both the medical and social drivers of the epidemic.

New findings from the Global TB Report 2025 reveal encouraging progress but also highlight serious ongoing challenges. South Africa has achieved a remarkable 61% reduction in TB incidence between 2015 and 2024, demonstrating the impact of years of coordinated efforts from government, civil society, health workers, and community-based organisations.

Yet this success is contrasted by persistently high mortality rates. TB-related deaths have declined by only 17% over the same period, with 54,000 people dying in 2024, including 29,000 individuals living with HIV. TB remains the country’s leading cause of death from a single infectious agent, fuelled by high HIV prevalence and entrenched socio-economic inequities.

You can read the full TB Summit press release here:

TB Summit: Steadfast. Persistent. South Africa makes progress in TB reduction, but mortality and inequality persist.