Paul Mashatile reports steady decline in TB cases since 2015

Deputy President, Paul Mashatile speaking during the National World TB Day commemoration event

Deputy President Paul Mashatile says there has been a steady decline in the number of people contracting Tuberculosis (TB) annually, compared with the 2015 baseline.

He was speaking during the National World TB Day commemoration event at Caledon, in the Overberg district of the Western Cape.

Let us commit ourselves anew: to get tested, to seek treatment promptly, to complete treatment if infected, to support one another, and to build a healthier, TB-free South Africa.

TB is preventable. TB is curable.

“Yes! You and I can end TB.”#WorldTBDay2026 #WorldTBDay… pic.twitter.com/Rq2E3EQisd

— Paul Mashatile🇿🇦 (@PMashatile) March 24, 2026

Mashatile says the national TB programme has reduced the TB incidence rate by 61%.

“Treatment outcomes for drug-resistant TB patients have improved significantly. We are now seeing a 79% treatment success rate, and for the first time, lost-to-follow-up rates for Drug-Resistant TB are in single digits. This breakthrough is a result of our accelerated efforts in scaling up the introduction of shorter, more effective regimens”.

I want to make a special call today to men: please get tested for TB. Our data shows clearly that many of the missing cases are among men. In the past 11 months, even though fewer men have been tested, their positivity rate is much higher. Testing more men will help us find those… pic.twitter.com/LaoKkxd4Gb

— Paul Mashatile🇿🇦 (@PMashatile) March 24, 2026