Spotlight NSP

05/05/2026

BRIDGING THE GAP | Young people with kidney disease in South Africa often fall into the gap between the paediatric and adult healthcare systems. One innovative clinic in Cape Town is offering a solution tailor-made for this group.

https://www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2026/05/05/cape-towns-unique-kidney-clinic-is-keeping-youngsters-alive/

04/05/2026

ALL EYES ON NHI THIS WEEK | We may now be approaching a decisive moment, with the Constitutional Court set to hear two of the NHI challenges. These two challenges deal with public participation in the making of what is now the NHI Act.

From 5–7 May, the Constitutional Court will hear two of the multiple challenges to the NHI Act. Sasha Stevenson, Executive Director of SECTION27, considers what will be on the line in these first potentially landmark cases that deal with the process that led to the Act.

30/04/2026

OP-ED | Substance abuse is both a symptom and a consequence of untreated mental illness, and government needs to urgently step in to confront this dangerous overlap, argues Gauta Mashego of Section27.

Substance abuse is both a symptom and a consequence of untreated mental illness, and government needs to urgently step in to confront this dangerous overlap, argues Gauta Mashego of SECTION27.

29/04/2026

LOVE AND LOSS | When Christoff and Tarryn Bell fell in love with a severely ill baby in a KwaZulu-Natal orphanage, it kickstarted a journey which would see them caring for numerous abandoned children with life-limiting illnesses.

Fifteen years ago, when Christoff and Tarryn Bell fell in love with a severely ill baby in a KwaZulu-Natal orphanage, they had no idea this would kickstart a journey which would see them caring for numerous abandoned children with life-limiting illnesses. Sue Segar reports.

28/04/2026

RURAL HEALTH HEROES | When Thokozile Ndlovu found out her baby had a life-limiting illness, she went from pillar to post looking for medical help. Her journey took her to one of the only places offering hope, the Butterfly Palliative Home in KwaZulu-Natal.

When Thokozile Ndlovu found out that her baby had a life-limiting illness, she went from pillar to post looking for medical help. Her journey took her to one of the only places offering hope, the Butterfly Palliative Home in Ingwavuma in KwaZulu-Natal. Sue Segar reports.

24/04/2026

THE STAKES ARE HIGH | The Constitutional Court will soon hear the first two of several major court challenges relating to the National Health Insurance Act. Read our newsletter for the crucial takeaways: tinyurl.com/bddwsha9

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23/04/2026

NHI | In early May, the Constitutional Court will hear two of the multiple challenges to the NHI Act. Sasha Stevenson, Executive Director of SECTION27, considers what will be on the line in these first potentially landmark cases.

https://www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2026/04/23/participatory-democracy-what-will-be-on-the-line-when-the-countrys-highest-court-turns-to-nhi-in-may/
Section27

From 5–7 May, the Constitutional Court will hear two of the multiple challenges to the NHI Act. Sasha Stevenson, Executive Director of SECTION27, considers what will be on the line in these first potentially landmark cases that deal with the process that led to the Act.

21/04/2026

JUST PUBLISHED | The Western Cape health department is ramping up its workforce with 800 new frontline posts. Questions now turn to how soon the new posts will translate into staff on the ground.

The Western Cape health department is ramping up its workforce with 800 new frontline posts. After years of austerity and with long lists of vacancies, questions now turn to how soon the new posts will translate into staff on the ground. Christina Pitt reports.

20/04/2026

This year’s flu season has started, somewhat ahead of schedule. Find out more about what we know about sub-clade K - a novel variant of influenza doing the rounds.

https://www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2026/04/01/flu-season-is-here-with-experts-keeping-a-close-eye-on-new-flu-strain/

17/04/2026

FROM CUTS TO COMEBACK? It has been a bruising year or so for medical researchers in South Africa. Does our government have the vision and ambition to seize the moment? Read our latest newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/4dra37cs

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16/04/2026

RURAL HEALTH HERO | Bukhosi Mdletshe works as clinic manager at the Ensingweni clinic in in KwaZulu-Natal, and in his words, paying his dues to the rural community that raised him.

Bukhosi Mdletshe works as clinic manager at the Ensingweni clinic in in KwaZulu-Natal, and in his words, paying his dues to the rural community that raised him. Sue Segar and Thom Pierce spent some time with Mdletshe for Spotlight’s Rural Health Heroes series.

15/04/2026

CASH CRUNCH | Spotlight looks at what the South African Medical Research Council has done to weather the US health funding storm and what they have planned for the next few years:

Cuts in United States funding for global health research over the past year dealt a heavy blow to South Africa’s health research ecosystem, which has historically been heavily reliant on US financial support. Catherine Tomlinson looks at what the South African Medical Research Council has done to ...