DSD LAUNCHES TB STRATEGY TO ADDRESS SOCIAL DRIVERS OF TUBERCULOSIS

By Precious Mupenzi

• DSD launches its first-ever TB Strategy, placing social protection at the centre of South Africa’s response to tuberculosis.
• The Strategy targets the social drivers of TB, including poverty, unemployment, food insecurity, overcrowding and social exclusion.
• Stakeholders call for a multisectoral approach that combines healthcare interventions with social and economic support.

BOKSBURG, GAUTENG – The Department of Social Development (DSD) has launched its first-ever Tuberculosis (TB) Strategy, placing social protection at the heart of South Africa’s efforts to combat one of the country’s most persistent public health challenges.

The strategy was launched on 10 June 2026 on the sidelines of the 9th South African TB Conference, currently underway at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre in Boksburg. Held from 8 to 11 June 2026 under the theme “Vuka”, the conference has brought together delegates from all nine provinces, academia, government, civil society organisations, development partners and the private sector.
The newly launched strategy positions social protection as a critical pillar in South Africa’s efforts to end TB as a public health threat. While significant progress has been made in diagnosing and treating the disease, the Department recognises that medical interventions alone will not be sufficient to eliminate tuberculosis.

The strategy adopts a broader social protection approach by addressing the socio-economic conditions that increase vulnerability to TB, including poverty, unemployment, food insecurity, overcrowding, substance abuse and social exclusion. It acknowledges that the impact of tuberculosis extends beyond health, affecting livelihoods, household income, human dignity and the overall wellbeing of individuals, families and communities.

Acting Director-General of the Department of Social Development, Advocate Gugulethu Thimane, described the launch as a significant milestone in strengthening South Africa’s multisectoral response to tuberculosis.
“TB affects the right to life, but it also affects livelihoods, food security, human dignity and the overall wellbeing of families and communities. When people become ill, their productivity declines, some lose their jobs, businesses suffer and households experience additional financial pressures. That is why our response cannot focus on the health aspect alone,” said Adv. Thimane.

She explained that the Department’s role is to ensure that social protection forms an integral part of the national response to tuberculosis, particularly for vulnerable individuals and households struggling to cope with the socio-economic consequences of the disease.

“We want to make sure that while government continues to strengthen treatment and healthcare interventions, we also address issues of social protection, social security, nutrition, psychosocial support and family care. These are critical pillars in helping people recover and rebuild their lives,” she said.

Adv. Thimane highlighted that poverty, overcrowding, unemployment, food insecurity and social exclusion continue to increase vulnerability to TB, making collaboration across sectors essential.
“We know that if people are living in overcrowded conditions, if they are poor, disadvantaged and marginalised, they are more likely to be affected by TB. Addressing TB therefore requires a multidisciplinary and multisectoral approach. Health alone cannot do it. Social Development alone cannot do it. We need government departments, civil society organisations, development partners, communities and families to work together to address the conditions that drive the disease,” she said.

She added that the strategy gives practical expression to government’s commitment to a whole-of-society response by providing a framework for coordinated action across sectors.
“The strategy is not just a document. It is a practical roadmap that helps us align our efforts, strengthen partnerships and ensure that social protection becomes an integral part of South Africa’s response to TB. Through this approach, we can address both the disease itself and the social realities that allow it to thrive,” she said.

The strategy seeks to strengthen access to social assistance, social security, nutrition support, psychosocial services, community-based interventions and referral pathways, while promoting greater coordination among stakeholders involved in the fight against TB.

Welcoming the initiative, Dr Nkhensani Nkhwashu, NSP Executive Manager at the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC), described the strategy as a significant achievement and a demonstration of leadership in addressing the social and structural drivers of tuberculosis.

“People do not contract TB simply because the bacteria exists. It is the social conditions around them that make them vulnerable to the disease. If we are serious about ending TB, we must address both the disease and the conditions that allow it to thrive,” said Dr Nkhwashu.

She commended the Department for taking accountability in an area often viewed solely as a health-sector responsibility, describing the strategy as a practical example of multisectoral collaboration and social accountability in action.

Representing the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative, Dr Thato Chidarikire congratulated the Department on the launch and reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to supporting countries in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and ensuring universal access to life-saving TB prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care.
Dr Chidarikire emphasised the importance of integrating social interventions into national TB programmes.

“Investing in tuberculosis is not only a health intervention; it is a strategic social, political and economic investment. With sustained political commitment and adequate financing, countries can build stronger economies, healthier workforces and more resilient families while accelerating progress towards ending TB,” she said.

Turning her focus to South Africa, Dr Chidarikire acknowledged the country’s progress in reducing TB incidence by 61 per cent since 2015, while cautioning that the disease remains a significant public health challenge, particularly among vulnerable populations.

“Ending TB requires more than a biomedical response. We must move towards an integrated, multisectoral model that treats people holistically and addresses the social and economic conditions that place individuals and communities at risk,” she said.

She further noted that the National Department of Health’s ambitious target of conducting five million TB tests is critical to accelerating progress. However, she stressed that testing and treatment must be complemented by social and economic interventions that address the underlying factors driving vulnerability to the disease.

The DSD TB Strategy aligns with the National Strategic Plan for HIV, TB and STIs and contributes to broader government efforts to reduce TB-related illness and deaths while improving the quality of life of affected individuals and households.

For the Department of Social Development, the launch marks an important milestone in ensuring that the fight against tuberculosis is not confined to clinics and hospitals, but extends to addressing the underlying social conditions that continue to fuel vulnerability and inequality in communities across South Africa.