South Africa Renews Commitment at the 9th SA TB Conference
- Karabo Makgato
More than 1,000 delegates from government, academia, research institutions, civil society, the private sector, labour, and development partners gathered at the Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre in Boksburg from 8–11 June 2026 for the 9th South African Tuberculosis (TB) Conference.
Hosted under the theme “Vuka! Let’s Unite Towards a TB-Free World!”, the conference served as a vital platform to reflect on South Africa’s progress against tuberculosis while galvanising renewed action to accelerate efforts to end TB as a public health threat.
As South Africa continues to grapple with one of the world’s highest TB burdens, the conference provided a timely platform for renewed commitment, innovation and collaboration in the fight against the disease. While significant gains have been made over the past decade, tuberculosis remains one of the leading causes of illness and death in the country, particularly among vulnerable populations and people living with HIV.
Opening the conference, Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi acknowledged the considerable burden TB continues to place on South Africa. “Progress is not enough if thousands of South Africans continue to die from a disease that is preventable and curable,” he said. “The next phase of South Africa’s TB response must be bolder, smarter, more integrated, more people-centred, and more accountable than ever before.”
According to figures presented during the conference, South Africa recorded an estimated 249,000 new TB cases in 2024, approximately 14,000 cases of drug-resistant TB, and more than 54,000 TB-related deaths. More than half of all people diagnosed with TB are also living with HIV, highlighting the continued challenge of TB/HIV co-infection.
Despite these challenges, the conference highlighted encouraging progress. Since 2015, South Africa has achieved a 61% reduction in TB incidence, surpassing the World Health Organization’s 2025 milestone ahead of schedule. Treatment coverage has increased significantly, while new innovations in diagnostics, treatment and prevention continue to strengthen the national response.
Professor Mohlopheni Marakalala, Chairperson of the 9th SA TB Conference and Unit Director at the South African Medical Research Council’s Centre for Tuberculosis Research, emphasised the importance of collaboration and African-led solutions. “While scientific advances, policy reforms and community-based interventions have brought us closer to our goals, much work still needs to be done,” he said. “This is a call for us to rise together and show resilience as we march towards an envisioned TB-free world.”
Over four days, delegates engaged in robust discussions across multiple conference tracks, including Basic and Clinical Science, Epidemiological and Operational Research, Prevention and Vaccines, Sustainability and Human Rights, as well as Patient and Civil Society Mobilisation and Advocacy.
The conference showcased cutting-edge research and innovations aimed at strengthening TB prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Discussions highlighted South Africa’s leadership in adopting advanced diagnostic technologies, including Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing for drug-resistant TB and preparations for the introduction of near-point-of-care molecular testing technologies.
Delegates also explored progress in vaccine development, with growing optimism surrounding several TB vaccine candidates currently in late-stage clinical development. South Africa has already begun preparing for the rapid introduction of new vaccines once approved for use.
A key focus of the conference was the implementation of the National End TB Plan 1.0, launched by the Department of Health to accelerate progress towards ending TB by 2035. Minister Motsoaledi outlined several achievements supporting the plan’s pillars, including the testing of more than 3.2 million people for TB through the national End TB Campaign, expanded community screening programmes, improved laboratory systems and the successful rollout of shorter treatment regimens for drug-resistant and drug-susceptible TB.
The conference also highlighted the importance of addressing the social and economic drivers of TB. Despite improvements in treatment and diagnosis, an estimated 56% of TB-affected households continue to experience catastrophic costs associated with illness, transport, loss of income and caregiving responsibilities.
Recognising these realities, delegates welcomed stronger collaboration between the health sector and the Department of Social Development to improve social protection, nutrition support, psychosocial services and community-based interventions.
Addressing delegates during the closing plenary on 11 June, Deputy President Paul Mashatile, in his capacity as Chairperson of SANAC, reflected on South Africa’s TB journey and called for renewed unity in the fight against the disease.
“Our history in the response to HIV and TB reminds us that disjointed responses prolong epidemics, while collective action bends the curve of history. The progress since the integration of our TB/HIV strategies, community-driven care and innovations in diagnostics and treatment proves that unity delivers results,” said the Deputy President.
Deputy President Mashatile highlighted SANAC’s role in strengthening multisectoral coordination through initiatives such as the TB Technical Task Team and the establishment of technical working groups aimed at accelerating implementation of key priorities.
He also welcomed the launch of the public-facing End TB Dashboard, which enables communities, researchers and policymakers to monitor progress, identify gaps and support evidence-based interventions.
As the conference ended, delegates were reminded that ending TB requires more than scientific breakthroughs and policy commitments. It demands sustained leadership, community ownership, accountability and collective action.
Deputy President Mashatile urged all stakeholders to turn conference recommendations into measurable action, strengthen TB service delivery, address barriers to care, improve TB/HIV integration and scale up innovative approaches to prevention and treatment. “TB is preventable, curable and beatable,” he said. “Each advancement confirms that the pursuit of a TB-free world is a tangible reality we are actively creating today.”