Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism
@bhekisisa.org
The award-winning Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism brings you solutions-based health analysis & features. Subscribe to our newsletter: http://bit.ly/20aLIdR
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What will HIV funding look like in 2026? - Bhekisisa
After a year of US funding cuts across global public health, including South Africa’s hard-hit HIV programmes, new realities are settling in. We spoke to Mitchell Warren from the New York-based HIV…
bhekisisa.org
One year after the Trump Administration funding cuts: SA’s #HIV response is still reeling. Thousands of health workers lost their jobs. Clinics closed overnight. And the R2-billion pledge that brought relief for some programmes ends in March.
What happens next? bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
What happens next? bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
60% of cigarettes smoked in SA are illicit — meaning they are either partially or fully untaxed. The solution? Track-and-trace tech. So why hasn’t it been implemented? UCT's tobacco economics expert Corné van Walbeek explains the #TobaccoBill.
bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
How to decode Big Tobacco’s illicit trade fiction - Bhekisisa
The tobacco industry is getting ready for the final showdown as South Africa’s Tobacco Bill heads into its last rounds, pulling out its well-worn talking points on illicit trade and high taxes. We…
bhekisisa.org
February 12, 2026 at 2:00 PM
60% of cigarettes smoked in SA are illicit — meaning they are either partially or fully untaxed. The solution? Track-and-trace tech. So why hasn’t it been implemented? UCT's tobacco economics expert Corné van Walbeek explains the #TobaccoBill.
bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
SA doesn't have tax stamps on cigarette packs. No way to verify if tax has been paid. The system runs on ... honesty. As UCT's tobacco economics expert Corné van Walbeek explains, there is a better way.
#IllicitTobaccoTrade
bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
#IllicitTobaccoTrade
bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
How to decode Big Tobacco’s illicit trade fiction - Bhekisisa
The tobacco industry is getting ready for the final showdown as South Africa’s Tobacco Bill heads into its last rounds, pulling out its well-worn talking points on illicit trade and high taxes. We…
bhekisisa.org
February 12, 2026 at 12:30 PM
SA doesn't have tax stamps on cigarette packs. No way to verify if tax has been paid. The system runs on ... honesty. As UCT's tobacco economics expert Corné van Walbeek explains, there is a better way.
#IllicitTobaccoTrade
bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
#IllicitTobaccoTrade
bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
How to spot an illicit cigarette pack in SA: If it costs less than R35, it's "highly suspicious."
Why? Excise tax alone = R22.81 per pack. Add VAT, production costs, retail margin ... legitimate packs can't sell that cheap.
#IllicitTobaccoTrade
bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
Why? Excise tax alone = R22.81 per pack. Add VAT, production costs, retail margin ... legitimate packs can't sell that cheap.
#IllicitTobaccoTrade
bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
How to decode Big Tobacco’s illicit trade fiction - Bhekisisa
The tobacco industry is getting ready for the final showdown as South Africa’s Tobacco Bill heads into its last rounds, pulling out its well-worn talking points on illicit trade and high taxes. We…
bhekisisa.org
February 12, 2026 at 10:49 AM
How to spot an illicit cigarette pack in SA: If it costs less than R35, it's "highly suspicious."
Why? Excise tax alone = R22.81 per pack. Add VAT, production costs, retail margin ... legitimate packs can't sell that cheap.
#IllicitTobaccoTrade
bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
Why? Excise tax alone = R22.81 per pack. Add VAT, production costs, retail margin ... legitimate packs can't sell that cheap.
#IllicitTobaccoTrade
bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
60% of cigarettes smoked in SA are illicit — meaning they are either partially or fully untaxed. The solution? Track-and-trace tech. So why hasn’t it been implemented? UCT's tobacco economics expert Corné van Walbeek explains the #TobaccoBill. bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
How to decode Big Tobacco’s illicit trade fiction - Bhekisisa
The tobacco industry is getting ready for the final showdown as South Africa’s Tobacco Bill heads into its last rounds, pulling out its well-worn talking points on illicit trade and high taxes. We…
bhekisisa.org
February 11, 2026 at 1:00 PM
60% of cigarettes smoked in SA are illicit — meaning they are either partially or fully untaxed. The solution? Track-and-trace tech. So why hasn’t it been implemented? UCT's tobacco economics expert Corné van Walbeek explains the #TobaccoBill. bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
#BATSA announced it's closing its Heidelberg cigarette manufacturing plant, blaming illegal trade & high taxes. UCT's tobacco economics expert Corné van Walbeek explains what is really behind SA’s massive #IllicitTobaccoTrade.
mailchi.mp/bhekisisa.or...
mailchi.mp/bhekisisa.or...
February 11, 2026 at 12:30 PM
#BATSA announced it's closing its Heidelberg cigarette manufacturing plant, blaming illegal trade & high taxes. UCT's tobacco economics expert Corné van Walbeek explains what is really behind SA’s massive #IllicitTobaccoTrade.
mailchi.mp/bhekisisa.or...
mailchi.mp/bhekisisa.or...
India does not have a great book-reading tradition, so why does the country have 100 literature festivals? Read Rosaline Daniel’s pick, from The Guardian, in today's #BhekisisaInYourInbox. mailchi.mp/bhekisisa.or...
Fact, fiction and SA’s illicit tobacco trade
The tobacco industry is getting ready for the final rounds of South Africa’s Tobacco Bill, which has been seven years in the making, pulling out its well-worn Big Tobacco playbook talking points on...
mailchi.mp
February 11, 2026 at 11:32 AM
India does not have a great book-reading tradition, so why does the country have 100 literature festivals? Read Rosaline Daniel’s pick, from The Guardian, in today's #BhekisisaInYourInbox. mailchi.mp/bhekisisa.or...
How to spot an illicit cigarette pack in SA: If it costs less than R35, it's "highly suspicious."
Why? Excise tax alone = R22.81 per pack. Add VAT, production costs, retail margin ... legitimate packs can't sell that cheap.
#IllicitTobaccoTrade
bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
Why? Excise tax alone = R22.81 per pack. Add VAT, production costs, retail margin ... legitimate packs can't sell that cheap.
#IllicitTobaccoTrade
bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
How to decode Big Tobacco’s illicit trade fiction - Bhekisisa
The tobacco industry is getting ready for the final showdown as South Africa’s Tobacco Bill heads into its last rounds, pulling out its well-worn talking points on illicit trade and high taxes. We…
bhekisisa.org
February 11, 2026 at 9:00 AM
How to spot an illicit cigarette pack in SA: If it costs less than R35, it's "highly suspicious."
Why? Excise tax alone = R22.81 per pack. Add VAT, production costs, retail margin ... legitimate packs can't sell that cheap.
#IllicitTobaccoTrade
bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
Why? Excise tax alone = R22.81 per pack. Add VAT, production costs, retail margin ... legitimate packs can't sell that cheap.
#IllicitTobaccoTrade
bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
"Plain packaging will increase illicit trade" is a #BigTobacco talking point that’s been pushed as the #TobaccoBill enters its final rounds. It’s also been debunked repeatedly. Read what’s really driving it. #IllicitTobaccoTrade bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
How to decode Big Tobacco’s illicit trade fiction - Bhekisisa
The tobacco industry is getting ready for the final showdown as South Africa’s Tobacco Bill heads into its last rounds, pulling out its well-worn talking points on illicit trade and high taxes. We…
bhekisisa.org
February 11, 2026 at 6:00 AM
"Plain packaging will increase illicit trade" is a #BigTobacco talking point that’s been pushed as the #TobaccoBill enters its final rounds. It’s also been debunked repeatedly. Read what’s really driving it. #IllicitTobaccoTrade bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
Read how by shifting how we think about #obesity — from personal failing to #chronic disease — could open up healthcare coverage, reduce stigma and enable evidence-based treatment. bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
Obesity: The chronic disease that isn’t treated like one - Bhekisisa
A review of 37 studies found that when people stop taking weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, the weight comes back. Experts working in obesity aren’t surprised because, they say, just like type 2…
bhekisisa.org
February 9, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Read how by shifting how we think about #obesity — from personal failing to #chronic disease — could open up healthcare coverage, reduce stigma and enable evidence-based treatment. bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
“One in four children in England start school without being toilet trained, say teachers.” Read Jessica Pitchford’s pick, from The Guardian, for today’s #BhekisisaInYourInbox.
mailchi.mp/.../8480782-...
mailchi.mp/.../8480782-...
February 9, 2026 at 1:30 PM
“One in four children in England start school without being toilet trained, say teachers.” Read Jessica Pitchford’s pick, from The Guardian, for today’s #BhekisisaInYourInbox.
mailchi.mp/.../8480782-...
mailchi.mp/.../8480782-...
#BigFood is using #BigTobacco's playbook: target children early with toys and marketing, get customers for life. SA's childhood #obesity rates are soaring and the health burden will hit in 20-30 years. What can be done? bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
Obesity: The chronic disease that isn’t treated like one - Bhekisisa
A review of 37 studies found that when people stop taking weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, the weight comes back. Experts working in obesity aren’t surprised because, they say, just like type 2…
bhekisisa.org
February 9, 2026 at 12:30 PM
#BigFood is using #BigTobacco's playbook: target children early with toys and marketing, get customers for life. SA's childhood #obesity rates are soaring and the health burden will hit in 20-30 years. What can be done? bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
"We can't wait 5-10 years for cheaper drugs. #Obesity is a disease of our time." Read our interview with Nomathemba Chandiwana on the urgency of the rising rates of obesity in SA — and what we need to do about it. mailchi.mp/bhekisisa.or...
February 9, 2026 at 10:46 AM
"We can't wait 5-10 years for cheaper drugs. #Obesity is a disease of our time." Read our interview with Nomathemba Chandiwana on the urgency of the rising rates of obesity in SA — and what we need to do about it. mailchi.mp/bhekisisa.or...
#Ultraprocessed foods = 40% of the average South African's diet. With poverty, it's not choosing healthy vs. unhealthy food. It's often choosing between food and no food. Read how malnutrition is driving our #obesity crisis. bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
Obesity: The chronic disease that isn’t treated like one - Bhekisisa
A review of 37 studies found that when people stop taking weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, the weight comes back. Experts working in obesity aren’t surprised because, they say, just like type 2…
bhekisisa.org
February 9, 2026 at 9:15 AM
#Ultraprocessed foods = 40% of the average South African's diet. With poverty, it's not choosing healthy vs. unhealthy food. It's often choosing between food and no food. Read how malnutrition is driving our #obesity crisis. bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
“Do we need every global health organisation? Do we need every global advocacy organisation?” A year after #Pepfar cuts, Avac's Mitchell Warren expects fewer acronyms in global health. But stronger ones. bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
What will HIV funding look like in 2026? - Bhekisisa
After a year of US funding cuts across global public health, including South Africa’s hard-hit HIV programmes, new realities are settling in. We spoke to Mitchell Warren from the New York-based HIV…
bhekisisa.org
February 6, 2026 at 1:30 PM
“Do we need every global health organisation? Do we need every global advocacy organisation?” A year after #Pepfar cuts, Avac's Mitchell Warren expects fewer acronyms in global health. But stronger ones. bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
Avac’s Mitchell Warren on #HIV in 2026: after an earthquake, architects don't build the same building again — they build something far more resilient. This is building forward, not building back. #TrumpFundingCuts bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
What will HIV funding look like in 2026? - Bhekisisa
After a year of US funding cuts across global public health, including South Africa’s hard-hit HIV programmes, new realities are settling in. We spoke to Mitchell Warren from the New York-based HIV…
bhekisisa.org
February 6, 2026 at 10:30 AM
Avac’s Mitchell Warren on #HIV in 2026: after an earthquake, architects don't build the same building again — they build something far more resilient. This is building forward, not building back. #TrumpFundingCuts bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
Avac’s Mitchell Warren on South Africa and the #HIVFundingCuts: "It needs to dig deep, both in its ability to be smart and strategic, and it needs to dig deep into its pocketbook.” And #lenacapavir is a priority. #PrEP bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
What will HIV funding look like in 2026? - Bhekisisa
After a year of US funding cuts across global public health, including South Africa’s hard-hit HIV programmes, new realities are settling in. We spoke to Mitchell Warren from the New York-based HIV…
bhekisisa.org
February 6, 2026 at 7:30 AM
Avac’s Mitchell Warren on South Africa and the #HIVFundingCuts: "It needs to dig deep, both in its ability to be smart and strategic, and it needs to dig deep into its pocketbook.” And #lenacapavir is a priority. #PrEP bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
One of the most outrageous Pepfar cuts was to not track the data, or at least not report on it. Now we're operating with one hand tied behind our back. We spoke to Avac's Mitchell Warren on measuring HIV funding impact without numbers. bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
What will HIV funding look like in 2026? - Bhekisisa
After a year of US funding cuts across global public health, including South Africa’s hard-hit HIV programmes, new realities are settling in. We spoke to Mitchell Warren from the New York-based HIV…
bhekisisa.org
February 5, 2026 at 2:00 PM
One of the most outrageous Pepfar cuts was to not track the data, or at least not report on it. Now we're operating with one hand tied behind our back. We spoke to Avac's Mitchell Warren on measuring HIV funding impact without numbers. bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
A recent report warns that the world is short of nearly a million midwives. Read more in Nicole Ludolph’s pick, from The Guardian, in today's #BhekisisaInYourInbox. mailchi.mp/bhekisisa.or...
February 5, 2026 at 12:30 PM
A recent report warns that the world is short of nearly a million midwives. Read more in Nicole Ludolph’s pick, from The Guardian, in today's #BhekisisaInYourInbox. mailchi.mp/bhekisisa.or...
What "strategic partnerships" mean when budgets shrink: instead of two orgs hosting conference sessions on #PrEP, one does it with the other's support. The #HIV sector is fundamentally restructuring. bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
What will HIV funding look like in 2026? - Bhekisisa
After a year of US funding cuts across global public health, including South Africa’s hard-hit HIV programmes, new realities are settling in. We spoke to Mitchell Warren from the New York-based HIV…
bhekisisa.org
February 5, 2026 at 11:30 AM
What "strategic partnerships" mean when budgets shrink: instead of two orgs hosting conference sessions on #PrEP, one does it with the other's support. The #HIV sector is fundamentally restructuring. bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
After a year of funding cuts to #HIV programmes, new realities are settling in. We spoke to AVAC's Mitchell Warren to find out what that means for South Africa and global public health. Read about it in our latest newsletter. mailchi.mp/bhekisisa.or...
February 5, 2026 at 10:51 AM
After a year of funding cuts to #HIV programmes, new realities are settling in. We spoke to AVAC's Mitchell Warren to find out what that means for South Africa and global public health. Read about it in our latest newsletter. mailchi.mp/bhekisisa.or...
One year after the Trump Administration funding cuts: SA’s #HIV response is still reeling. Thousands of health workers lost their jobs. Clinics closed overnight. And the R2-billion pledge that brought relief for some programmes ends in March.
What happens next? bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
What happens next? bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
What will HIV funding look like in 2026? - Bhekisisa
After a year of US funding cuts across global public health, including South Africa’s hard-hit HIV programmes, new realities are settling in. We spoke to Mitchell Warren from the New York-based HIV…
bhekisisa.org
February 5, 2026 at 8:59 AM
One year after the Trump Administration funding cuts: SA’s #HIV response is still reeling. Thousands of health workers lost their jobs. Clinics closed overnight. And the R2-billion pledge that brought relief for some programmes ends in March.
What happens next? bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
What happens next? bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
‘Try and register a #DomesticWorker with UIF. You'll pull out your teeth,’ says one labour lawyer. Only 20% of employers comply. That leaves thousands without #MaternityBenefits. bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
February 3, 2026 at 3:03 PM
‘Try and register a #DomesticWorker with UIF. You'll pull out your teeth,’ says one labour lawyer. Only 20% of employers comply. That leaves thousands without #MaternityBenefits. bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
How are Australia’s teens dodging the country’s social media ban? Read Jessica Pitchford’s pick, from The Spectator, for today’s #BhekisisaInYourInbox. mailchi.mp/bhekisisa.or...
February 3, 2026 at 1:00 PM
How are Australia’s teens dodging the country’s social media ban? Read Jessica Pitchford’s pick, from The Spectator, for today’s #BhekisisaInYourInbox. mailchi.mp/bhekisisa.or...
Stunting affects 1 in 4 SA children. The biggest predictor isn't what children eat — it's what their mothers eat during pregnancy. A #MaternalGrant could help break this cycle before it starts. bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
February 3, 2026 at 12:01 PM
Stunting affects 1 in 4 SA children. The biggest predictor isn't what children eat — it's what their mothers eat during pregnancy. A #MaternalGrant could help break this cycle before it starts. bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
Many #DomesticWorkers face an impossible choice: #breastfeed your baby or pay the bills. This decision has lifelong health consequences. Read more about a decade-old proposal that could help. mailchi.mp/bhekisisa.or...
February 3, 2026 at 11:32 AM
Many #DomesticWorkers face an impossible choice: #breastfeed your baby or pay the bills. This decision has lifelong health consequences. Read more about a decade-old proposal that could help. mailchi.mp/bhekisisa.or...