Record TB testing in Western Cape as province steps up fight to end TB
Ahead of World TB Day, recognised on 24 March each year, the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness (WCDHW) has recorded its highest-ever monthly TB testing figures, with nearly 40,000 people tested in February 2026 alone.
This marks a significant step up in the province’s efforts to find and treat TB early. Between 2023 and 2025, the department increased the number of TB tests conducted annually from 207,496 to 356,331, an increase of almost 150,000 tests in just two years.
Western Cape Minister of Health and Wellness, Mireille Wenger, emphasised the importance of putting the needs of the most vulnerable first in the fight against TB. “As a government, we are committed to ensuring that every person, especially the most vulnerable among us, can live with dignity, access the care they need and build lives they truly value.
TB is preventable and curable, and no one should be left behind because of where they live or their circumstances. By bring care closer to communities and prioritising those most at risk, we are working to ensure that every resident has a fair opportunity to live well and thrive.”
Celebrating World TB Day this week (24 March) with a flagship event in Caledon the WCDHW, together with the National Department of Health and the South African National AIDS Council marked the day by bringing together community members and service partners, drawing more than 3 000 people.
In the build up to this event and under the theme “Yes, you and I can beat TB”, healthcare teams, partners and communities across the province hosted a range of outreach events in March, taking screening, health education and support directly into communities. This included a walkathon at Alma Clinic in Kannaland to raise awareness, TB screenings in Khayelitsha and Eerste River, and education sessions at schools and in Kraaifontein.
From taxi ranks and community halls to farms, schools and places of worship, healthcare workers are meeting people where they live, work and travel.
Between April 2025 and February 2026, more than 48,000 people were diagnosed with TB in the Western Cape. Nearly half of these cases were among young adults aged 25 to 44, those in the most economically active years of their lives. Our records indicate that only 90% (approximately 43 200) of those diagnosed with TB during this period started treatment, despite treatment being free and effective
Minister Wenger said, “No matter who you are, if you feel unwell or have interrupted your treatment, our facilities are here to support you and will welcome you back to care. Our approach in the Western Cape is to move beyond siloed programmes and towards integrated, people-centred and community-based care. Our clinics offer combined TB and HIV services because we know these diseases are deeply interconnected. By integrating services, we make it easier for people to access care, improve outcomes and strengthen the overall health system.
This is why TB testing is included for vulnerable groups visiting our facilities, including newly diagnosed HIV-positive patients, pregnant women living with HIV, and those on antiretroviral treatment.”
Through initiatives such as the Close the Gap and End TB campaigns, the WCDHW continues to expand testing, strengthen linkage to care, and support patients to remain on treatment. These efforts are grounded in partnership, bringing together government, civil society, the private sector and communities in a shared response.
TB remains one of South Africa’s most serious public health challenges. According to Statistics South Africa, TB is the fifth leading underlying natural cause of death in the country. However, we see that young men, between the ages of 15 and 24, are particularly at risk as it is the leading underlying natural cause of death in the country.
Minister Wenger encouraged residents to seek care early and remain on treatment. “Know your status, stay on treatment, and remember that together, we can beat TB.”
Media Enquiries
Robyn Thomson
Spokesperson for the Provincial Minister of Health and Wellness
Email: robyn.thomson@westerncape.gov.za
Dwayne Evans
Communication
Department of Health and Wellness
Western Cape Government
Cell: 072 236 8658
Email: dwayne.evans@westerncape.gov.za