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A doctor points to an x-ray showing a pair of lungs infected with TB (tuberculosis), January 27, 2014.
The Free State Department of Health is currently dealing with about 22000 patients who defaulted on their Tuberculosis (TB) treatment.
With the disease being amongst the deadliest, this behaviour puts a strain on the efforts to combat TB, the department says.
The department has embarked on the “End TB” campaign in Welkom.
This provincial campaign will also target former and current mine workers in the Lejweleputswa district.
The campaign allows residents to be screened and tested for TB.
VIDEO | Buffalo City Metro | Concern about the number of defaulting TB patients
— SABC News (@SABCNews) March 24, 2026
Both current and ex-miners grabbed the opportunity to do medical check-ups.
They say they have come to realise the danger their working environment has exposed them to.
One of them is 64-year-old Goodman Janda, who worked in a mine from 1972 until 2015, when he fell ill.
He has done tests several times as he feels the exposure at the mine has impacted his health negatively.
“I’m not well; I can hear it in my voice. I’m losing it because I’m sick, and I’m also losing weight,” says Janda.
Some have escaped falling sick while on treatment for Silicosis before.
“I heard about the message that people are allowed to come and check themselves. That’s why I’m here today—to get checked, because it’s my life and I still need to be in good health,” says another patient.
“I worked from 1980 to 2014 and didn’t know anything about this disease. They noticed it through an X-ray, it’s silicosis,” another patient says.
WATCH | Ahead of World TB Day on 24 March, pulmonologist Dr Becky Kgole and Prof Norbet Njeka from the National Department of Health join SABC News to raise awareness. pic.twitter.com/mQIkIvbHRY
— SABC News (@SABCNews) March 22, 2026
This health exercise is not limited to mine and ex-mine workers.
“It’s better to know, and it’s easy to treat. TB is an infectious disease—you might have it and still be at home with your family, unknowingly infecting them. So it’s better to go to the clinic, get tested, and start treatment. To be honest, it’s just six months, and you’ll be cured,” says TB survivor, Sbatha Malefane.
Free State Health MEC, Monyatso Mahlatsi, says despite significant progress, it is focusing on intensifying the fight against TB.
“Yes, we’re starting to focus on sectors of our community. In the past few months, we’ve been focusing on workers. Last week, I was at the Central University of Technology, where we focused on women from the National Union of Natural Workers of South Africa. We screened and tested women there. We focus on workers because they often don’t have time to attend health facilities during working hours. That’s why we provide services at this time, and we are also looking at ways to offer health services outside of normal working hours,” says Mahlatsi.
National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) Free State health and safety chairperson, Lekhooa Matlali, says the campaign also assists those infected to claim their compensation.
“Here, we are just bringing the services closer to the people. We have also invited other departments so that when people discover their illnesses, they can submit their claims and receive assistance,” says Matlali.
Earlier this month, on World TB Day, the Health MEC announced the department achieved a 65 per cent success rate in treating resistant tuberculosis.
RELATED VIDEO | Buffalo City Metro | Concern about the number of defaulting TB patients
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OE5gWF5F154
