AGP Executive Report

HIV Prevention Rollout: Gauteng is rolling out the twice-yearly HIV prevention injection Lenacapavir across 133 clinics to reach 56,000 people, aiming to boost uptake and reduce new infections. Migration & Public Health Pressure: President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged rising tensions around illegal immigration, saying concerns about jobs and pressure on services like clinics are “real,” while stressing only authorised officials can enforce immigration laws. Xenophobia Aftercare: Ghana’s evacuation of citizens from South Africa continues, with the last batch of 342 arriving in Accra to complete a 979-person programme; Ghana says returnees will also get support including medical and psychosocial help and job opportunities. Food Safety Watch: Cape Town reports a three-year low in foodborne illness cases, with 13 incidents recorded so far this financial year, after thousands of food samples were tested and compliance exceeded 88%. Child Protection: SAPS says 15,888 suspects were arrested and 2,773 convicted for crimes against children over the past year as Child Protection Month ends.

HIV Prevention Breakthrough: South Africa has launched a R1.3bn rollout of long-acting injectable Lenacapavir, aiming to make HIV prevention easier with twice-yearly dosing and near-100% effectiveness reported in trials. Public Health Access: A new telehealth service for pensioners is being rolled out in Ghana, highlighting how remote care can cut waiting times and travel barriers for older patients. Ebola Border Watch: South Africa’s Border Management Authority says it has intensified screening at ports of entry as Ebola spreads in Central Africa, with temperature checks and travel-history interviews for arrivals. Healthcare Integrity Under Fire: The SIU raid at Omar’s Motor Den in eMalahleni is sparking pushback, with the owner disputing alleged links to the Tembisa Hospital procurement scandal and questioning the process. Crime and Safety: Three men were shot dead at a fruit and veg stall in Philippi East, while the Hawks’ capacity is being questioned amid corruption concerns. Road Safety: Six people died in a crash on the R542 near Middelburg, with four others seriously injured. Wellness & Risk: Experts are warning about a growing Facebook “nude scam” targeting South African professionals, urging caution with online contacts.

HIV Prevention Breakthrough: South Africa has launched the long-acting HIV prevention injection Lenacapavir, positioning it as a major step toward ending daily pills and strengthening prevention access. Migration Pressure on Health Services: Cabinet has rejected a June 30 shutdown threat tied to anti-immigration protests, saying a comprehensive migration plan will be rolled out instead—amid claims that undocumented foreigners are straining hospitals and clinics. Corruption in Healthcare Procurement: The SIU has secured an urgent order to seize a Bentley linked to alleged corruption at Tembisa Hospital, as part of broader Gauteng health procurement irregularities. Child Sexual Violence Alarm: Sonke Gender Justice says prevention must move to community level after justice data showed hundreds of rape cases involving children and rising statutory rape figures. Community Health Risks from Waste: Investigations in Johannesburg’s decommissioned landfill sites allege “waste lords” are illegally dumping and burning toxic waste, with residents reporting health impacts from smoke. Wellness in the Spotlight: Table Mountain hosted a curtain-raiser for International Day of Yoga, with Western Cape health officials framing yoga as prevention and wellbeing. Wildlife Health Watch: A female Indian-born cheetah (KGP11) died during treatment at Kuno National Park, while a pangolin rescue (Kito) is receiving veterinary care after alleged trafficking.

HIV Prevention Breakthrough: South Africa has officially launched lenacapavir, a long-acting, twice-yearly injectable for HIV prevention, with President Cyril Ramaphosa calling it a major turning point; the rollout starts at 360 public health facilities across high-burden districts, aiming to reach about 3 million people over three years, supported by Global Fund and CIFF funding. Mental Health Pressure: New figures highlight a growing mental health burden, with rising treatment and claims over the past decade and warnings that the crisis is becoming a fast-growing disease load. Medical Aid vs Insurance: Experts caution consumers not to confuse medical aid with medical insurance as more households downgrade coverage to cope with costs. Healthcare System Strain: Industry voices warn the “missing middle” is being pushed from private cover into the public sector, worsening access and reliability challenges. Employer Health Push: Some companies are moving toward fully funded healthcare benefits for lower-paid staff, arguing it boosts resilience and reduces lost productivity. Public Health in the Region: Mauritius has tightened entry rules after Ebola outbreaks in parts of Central Africa, including quarantine and screening requirements.

HIV Prevention Breakthrough: President Cyril Ramaphosa officially launched South Africa’s twice-yearly Lenacapavir injection in Secunda, aiming to reach 3 million people over three years via 360 public facilities; officials stress it’s a powerful prevention tool that complements testing, PrEP, condoms and other measures. Regional Health Integration: SADC adopted legal instruments in Victoria Falls to boost trade, travel and health cooperation, including a tourism “univisa” and a charter for pooled pharmaceutical procurement to cut medicine costs. Public Health Funding Pressure: Coverage flags that access to long-acting HIV prevention may be constrained by funding shortfalls, even as rollout accelerates. Hospital Corruption Fallout: SAPS suspended nine senior officers tied to the Medicare24 tender, while SIU actions continue around alleged Tembisa Hospital procurement irregularities, including court orders over a Bentley linked to the scandal. Food & Livestock Health: South Africa’s voluntary Foot-and-Mouth Disease vaccination scheme is set to strengthen control and protect trade, with implications for cross-border livestock movement. Community Health Stories: A petrol attendant in Cape Town helped deliver a baby at a garage before paramedics arrived, highlighting frontline care when hospitals are out of reach. Climate & Health Risks: FOUR PAWS warns factory farming worsens climate impacts and animal welfare, adding pressure to food systems and communities already hit by extreme weather.

HIV Prevention Shot: Civil society groups are urging President Ramaphosa to push Gilead for faster, wider access to lenacapavir, warning South Africa’s rollout is too slow and too small to curb new infections. Hospital Accountability: The DA is calling for answers after claims that Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital’s cardiothoracic unit has a 14% heart-surgery mortality rate, far above international norms, with allegations of misleading reporting. Medical Scheme Backlog: Bonitas members report delays and unanswered authorisation requests after a switch in administrators, with Bonitas blaming Medscheme and the dispute spilling into Momentum and PHA. Mental Health Crisis: SADAG says it fields up to 3,000 suicide calls daily, with 23 suicides and about 400 attempts every day, highlighting stigma and the need for urgent support. Prosthetics Innovation: North-West University’s “Beyond Limits” programme has integrated Vesconite Hilube bearings into a new four-bar prosthetic knee design aimed at more natural gait and better mobility. Road Safety Justice: A Western Cape court ordered the RAF to pay over R5 million for a child’s lifelong injuries after a 2013 crash, stressing that early “mild” trauma can have major long-term effects. FMD Vaccines: Farmers are weighing relief and frustration as South Africa accelerates foot-and-mouth disease vaccination after delays, with millions of doses procured and millions of animals vaccinated. Pet Care Insurance: Shoprite’s Petshop Science is partnering with Outsurance to offer free accidental pet insurance, adding pressure in a fast-growing but price-sensitive pet market. Xenophobia Response: Nigeria has begun screening citizens for evacuation from South Africa amid renewed xenophobic tensions and safety concerns.

HIV Prevention Push Under Fire: South African civil society groups say the planned lenacapavir rollout is too small and targets too few high-risk people, warning it risks being “more about the pomp than the public health impact.” Healthcare Reform Court Rethink: A Constitutional Court ruling struck down parts of the Certificate of Need (CONS) provisions, calling out a weak link between the mechanism and the goal of fairer access—forcing a rethink of how NHI-style reform is implemented. Drug Shortage Alarm: On the global front, India faces a two-week shortage of key platinum chemo medicines (cisplatin/carboplatin), with doctors blaming rising raw-material and fuel costs and price-control limits—an issue that can ripple into oncology supply chains. Cross-Border Care Milestone: Zimbabwe completed its first deep brain stimulation and spinal cord stimulation procedures with help from a Chinese medical team, with patients reported stable after successful neuromodulation surgeries. Access & Costs Watch: A Road Accident Fund case awarded a Cape mother over R5m for a child’s lifelong brain injury costs, highlighting how early harm can surface as developmental needs grow. Policy & Oversight: Ramaphosa authorised the SIU to probe maladministration at PSIRA and the UIF, signalling tighter scrutiny of state-linked systems. Public Health Context: Mozambique reported deaths tied to xenophobic attacks in South Africa, while SA police gave a different casualty count—underscoring how unrest can strain health and safety.

Border & Health Operations: NATJOINTS says it has activated an operational plan to curb unrest linked to undocumented migrants, focusing on intelligence-led policing, rapid deployment, and community engagement, with multiple agencies including SAPS, Home Affairs, Metro Police, and SANDF involved. Repatriation Update: The Border Management Authority reports 933 Mozambicans processed at Lebombo Port of Entry, with 926 successfully departing and 7 blocked due to documentation or nationality issues; 38 minors were handled with Social Development support. Care Access & Policy: Stakeholders at a World Health Expo in Lagos mapped pathways for digital health adoption and healthcare financing reforms, while Africa CDC pushed regulatory harmonisation and a goal to raise local medical product production to 60% by 2040. Public Health Focus: A South Africa men’s mental health piece warns that “tiger-ing” through pain fuels a silent crisis, noting men account for 79% of suicide deaths. HIV Prevention: President Ramaphosa launched the rollout of the Lenacapavir HIV prevention injection. Local Health Services: IEC says special votes for local government elections can be applied for by eligible voters, but people in hospitals outside their voting district may not be accommodated.

Competition & Pricing: South Africa’s Competition Commission has referred Adcock Ingram Critical Care to the Competition Tribunal over allegations of excessive pricing of kidney dialysis products (peritoneal dialysis and CRRT) between 2019 and 2024, saying AICC’s prices exceeded economic costs and may amount to abuse of dominance. Homelessness Support: Cape Town opened a new Safe Sleeping Zone at The Haven Night Shelter’s District Six branch, offering 60 winter beds and ablution facilities, with a pathway to shelter, medical help, meals and social work support. Health Access & Costs: A commentary on “gap cover” highlights how medical aid often doesn’t fully cover specialist fees, co-payments and sub-limits—pushing patients into out-of-pocket costs. Health & Innovation Ties: Deputy President Paul Mashatile met India’s President Droupadi Murmu and discussed expanding cooperation in technology and pharmaceuticals, alongside education, skilling and MSMEs. Public Health Infrastructure: Ghana’s wind-and-solar hybrid system delivered clean power to rural health centres, helping keep vaccines refrigerated and supporting maternal care. Food & Disease Risk: South Africa moved to expand foot-and-mouth disease vaccination, aiming to protect livestock exports while reducing reliance on movement restrictions. STEM for Future Health Workers: A mobile science lab (Curiosity Cube™) brought hands-on STEM learning to students in Zambia, including synthetic biology experiments. Safety & Violence: Police launched a manhunt after an 18-year-old learner was allegedly hacked to death with a panga in Soweto.

Workplace health and safety: Rand Mutual Assurance (RMA) used A-OSH Expo 2026 to push its shift from workers’ compensation to prevention and rehabilitation, reporting a 50% drop in eye and hand injuries and a 29% improvement in claims ratios. Critical illness cover: Momentum Life warns many South Africans are underinsured, pointing to R6.88bn paid in 2025 for critical illness, disability and income protection, with cancer still the top driver. Blood donation drive: SANBS launched “Be The Lifeline – Give Blood. Give A Tomorrow” for World Blood Donor Day, marking 25 years of blood services. HIV prevention rollout: President Ramaphosa said the country is rolling out the Lenacapavir HIV prevention injection (5 Jun), as prevention options expand. Health system strain: Reports highlight Khayelitsha clinic pressure from a growing population, while social workers remain in short supply nationwide, leaving many learners without support. Food and disease risk: Gauteng’s FMD vaccination response remains contentious after a DA motion failed, as farmers call for clearer vaccine distribution and stronger quarantine measures. Public health and safety: Police investigated a woman shot dead in Laudium, and unrest in Mossel Bay left deaths and displaced residents, with authorities urging people to ignore misinformation.

SIU Bursary Probe: The Special Investigating Unit says Free State bursaries worth over R8m were awarded improperly, including funding for deceased students and foreign nationals who didn’t meet policy requirements (2019–2020), with officials identified for approval and extensions. Court Ruling on Medical Negligence: South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal ordered Gauteng Health to compensate a mother after complications led to a hysterectomy following a C-section, upholding damages linked to the removal of her uterus. Climate & Health Monitoring: South Africa launched its first national climate and health surveillance platform to track health impacts like heat stress, air pollution and climate-sensitive diseases, supporting researchers and decision-makers. Food Security in Schools: Johannesburg-area learners are being taught aquaponics—growing plants with fish waste nutrients—to help improve food security using low-input, water-efficient systems. FMD Vaccine Rollout: Government says it has procured 13.5m foot-and-mouth disease vaccine doses and vaccinated just over 4.4m animals, with more doses arriving to speed up boosters. Cancer Research Boost: North-West University researchers report promising lab results for “cancer bush” (Lessertia frutescens) against drug-resistant cancers, including small-cell lung cancer. Mental Health Support Need: Registered counsellors warn resilience is often mistaken for endurance, calling for earlier, sustained mental health support in schools and workplaces. Xenophobia Fallout: Ongoing anti-immigrant violence continues to drive urgent repatriations, with hundreds of Mozambicans expected to be returned from South Africa.

Ebola Preparedness: Nigeria’s NCDC says the country is only ~59% ready for an Ebola outbreak, warning that travel and weak border entry points could allow imported cases to spread. AI & Child Safety: Experts warn South African children are increasingly using AI chatbots for companionship, raising concerns about screen addiction, sleep and social development. Cancer Research: North-West University is studying “cancer bush” (Lessertia frutescens) for activity against drug-resistant cancers, including small-cell lung and colorectal cancer. Weight-loss Drug Crackdown: Novo Nordisk is taking compounding pharmacy iDexis to the Pretoria High Court over alleged illegal semaglutide products, with public health risks at the centre. Blood Donation Awareness: South Africa marks Blood Donor Month, highlighting how one donation can save multiple lives through red cells, plasma and platelets. Road Safety: A Durban conference pushed road safety as a public health priority, citing very high daily crash casualties. Public Health Tech & Access: BRICS countries are strengthening cooperation on vaccines and medical technologies to expand access across the Global South. Hospital & System Strain: Reports also flag ongoing pressures in SA healthcare delivery, including staffing and service gaps.

Foot-and-mouth disease response: South Africa has vaccinated nearly 4.4 million livestock after procuring 13.5 million FMD vaccine doses, with more supply expected as the rollout scales up nationwide. Road safety: A major truck crash at Joburg’s Crown interchange has left lanes closed and drivers facing severe delays, with serious injuries reported. Public health & prevention: Cape Town is warning about youth tobacco use after sessions with learners ahead of World No Tobacco Day, with clinics offering free, youth-friendly support. Men’s health focus: Men’s Health Month coverage highlights simple, everyday wellness habits, including green tea as a practical option for energy and wellbeing. Force health protection: Naval Medical Research Unit EURAFCENT supported African Lion 26 with real-world surveillance work aimed at protecting troops from emerging infections. Climate and health link: A landmark African Court climate case argues that a safe, stable climate is essential for human rights, including health, food and water security. Child safety: Kraaifontein launched National Child Protection Week with community and healthcare partners, including child identification booklets. Animal welfare data: FOUR PAWS welcomed new Stats SA companion animal ownership figures, giving a clearer national baseline for pet-related planning and disease control.

SAPS Corruption Probe: Four senior SAPS officials were served with suspension notices linked to the R360m “Cat” Matlala Medicare24 police health tender, with internal charges already laid and the deal flagged as irregular by SAPS finance. Public Health & Safety: SAHPRA and the Pharmacy Council stepped up action against unregistered GLP-1/GIP weight-loss medicines (semaglutide/tirzepatide), seizing products after findings of illegal “compounding” and serious quality and safety gaps. Addiction & Prevention: Health experts warn flu season is underway, urging prevention for older adults, pregnant people, people living with HIV and those with chronic illness; separate coverage highlights the TB risk from tobacco and nicotine addiction. Water Quality Crisis: Johannesburg Water denied responsibility for alleged dirty water tankers during Rand Water maintenance disruptions, while residents report inconsistent deliveries and concerns for vulnerable patients. Child Health Tragedy: A 13-year-old died in Plastic View (Pretoria East) after two shack fires in a week; officials say the blaze may have started from a leaking gas cylinder. Drug Enforcement: Gauteng police seized about 10kg of crystal meth worth R3m in Diepsloot and arrested a suspect.

Ebola Watch (DR Congo): Health authorities say the Bundibugyo-strain Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC is accelerating, with deaths nearing 250 and suspected cases topping 1,000, as teams struggle with limited equipment and public mistrust; WHO is urging community action while warning that a vaccine is still months away. Travel & Border Health: Mexico’s airlines have imposed emergency entry bans for travellers from parts of Central Africa ahead of the World Cup, and WHO says the outbreak doesn’t meet the criteria for a pandemic emergency. Local Health System History: Durban’s Addington Children’s Hospital—shut under apartheid—has been highlighted as a lifeline for child patients, with its TB-era design and long legacy now being reclaimed. Water Safety & Access: In Johannesburg, residents in Coronationville and Westbury report unreliable Rand Water tanker deliveries and unsafe water, raising hygiene and medication risks. Child Protection & Violence: SAPS in the Eastern Cape has arrested two suspects after a critically ill 7-year-old girl in Humansdorp was found to have been sexually abused during treatment. Health Policy Accountability: DA says Gauteng health failed to report on plans to honour slain whistleblower Babita Deokaran, missing a legislature deadline. HIV Prevention (SA): South Africa is set to roll out a new HIV prevention injection in Mpumalanga.

Water & Public Health: Rand Water’s planned maintenance is underway in Johannesburg, with restoration possibly taking up to five days in some areas; hospitals, clinics and old age homes are prioritised and tankers are being deployed as reservoirs refill and pressure stabilises. Food Safety & Regulation: Government says it has received another 3.5-million doses of foot-and-mouth disease vaccines, bringing total supply to 13.5-million, after a High Court ruling allowed farmers to buy their own vaccines. Tobacco Control: A new study warns tobacco marketing is increasingly targeting women and girls in Nigeria (and beyond) via flavoured products and social media, ahead of World No Tobacco Day. Ebola Risk Management (Regional): Mexico restricts air entry from Uganda, DRC and South Sudan due to Ebola, as the DRC outbreak continues to surge with hundreds of suspected cases. Healthcare Access & Community Support: A Cape Town creator and Siya Kolisi surprised a child with chronic kidney disease in Langa, highlighting ongoing needs for treatment and support. Border Security & Health Implications: A major methaqualone precursor seizure at Beitbridge is being framed as proof of improved intelligence-led border enforcement, including biometric upgrades. Local Health System Pressure: Reports on the Charlotte Maxeke Hospital turnaround and reopening timeline continue to track repairs and service resumption.