Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism

03/02/2026

Only 20% of employers register domestic workers for UIF — even though it's legally required.

Labour lawyer Michael Bagraim puts it bluntly: "Go online and try and register a domestic worker on the UIF. You'll pull out your teeth."

The result? Thousands of women are locked out of maternity benefits that could help them breastfeed their children longer — a critical factor for child health and development.

The World Health Organisation recommends exclusive breastfeeding for six months. But just 32% of SA children receive it. One of the biggest reasons mothers stop? Returning to work.

For domestic workers, the barriers are even higher: • An online survey of 2 625 domestic workers found less than one in five thought they were entitled to breastfeeding breaks • In interviews, women said they wouldn't dare ask because of power imbalances and fear of losing their jobs • Even when entitled to UIF benefits, service delivery failures mean many go without.

A proposed maternal support grant would bypass the UIF entirely, working through Sassa infrastructure. But the proposal has languished for a decade, sent back last year due to cost concerns.



https://bhekisisa.org/health-news-south-africa/2026-02-03-the-real-nanny-tax-not-being-able-to-breastfeed-your-own-baby/

03/02/2026

How are Australia’s teens dodging the country’s social media ban? Read Jessica Pitchford’s pick, from The Spectator, for today’s . https://mailchi.mp/bhekisisa.org/8480782-15074338-nb3qcrn17v-15074618

03/02/2026

Many face an impossible choice: your baby or pay the bills. This decision has lifelong health consequences. Read more about a decade-old proposal that could help. https://mailchi.mp/bhekisisa.org/8480782-15074338-nb3qcrn17v-15074618

03/02/2026

Just 32% of South African children are exclusively breastfed for the first six months of their lives. One of the biggest reasons? Mothers have to go back to work.

For domestic workers, the barriers are even higher. An online survey of 2 625 domestic workers found that less than one in five thought they should be entitled to daily breastfeeding or expressing breaks. In interviews, they said they'd never known it was a possibility — and wouldn't dare ask, in fear of losing their jobs.

The consequences are serious. Babies not exclusively breastfed for six months are more likely to: • Fall ill more easily (breast milk contains mothers' antibodies) • Miss important developmental milestones • Develop obesity and chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease later in life.

A proposed maternal support grant — which has been languishing for a decade — could help.

https://bhekisisa.org/health-news-south-africa/2026-02-03-the-real-nanny-tax-not-being-able-to-breastfeed-your-own-baby/

03/02/2026

Priscilla worked as a live-in domestic worker. When she had her first child, her employers made the rules clear: the baby would stay upstairs with a hired nanny during work hours. Priscilla's attention was to be on their household, not hers — not even a phone call could distract her.

She could breastfeed at lunch, she thought. But most days, lunch was spent watching her employers' children. For weeks, she was left with painful, leaking breasts — made worse every time she heard her baby cry upstairs. After four months, her child only wanted formula.

The World Health Organisation recommends exclusive breastfeeding for six months. But for domestic workers like Priscilla, it's often an impossible choice: keep your job or breastfeed your child.

https://bhekisisa.org/health-news-south-africa/2026-02-03-the-real-nanny-tax-not-being-able-to-breastfeed-your-own-baby/

30/01/2026

The jab is called (LEN). It works almost 100% to stop HIV through s*x — and only needs two injections a year.

Find out what Buhle Sikade, who has used it for 3 years, tells her boyfriend.

For the past three years, Buhle Sikade, 22, has been using an injection that gives her almost foolproof protection against getting HIV through s*x — medicine that around 456 000 other HIV-negative people in South Africa will be able to get from 360 government clinics for free from April 1. Here’...

30/01/2026

Life on earth, as we know it, is impossible without access to safe drinking water. Read more on how to keep water safe in Anna Maria van Niekerk’s pick, from The Conversation Africa.

https://mailchi.mp/bhekisisa.org/8480782-15074338-nb3qcrn17v-15074598?e=17660a9d94

30/01/2026

Buhle Sikade says the small, temporary lumps from the injection are “a small price to pay”.

Her plan? “To protect myself against — until I die.”

Here’s why she’s used for the past 3 years.

https://bhekisisa.org/health-beat-shorts/2026-01-29-the-anti-hiv-jab-buhle-trusts-and-456-000-south-africans-can-soon-get-for-free/

30/01/2026

In our latest newsletter, Mia Malan and Anna Maria van Niekerk introduce us to Buhle Sikade, 22, who has been using the six-monthly prevention jab for the past three years.

https://mailchi.mp/bhekisisa.org/8480782-15074338-nb3qcrn17v-15074598?e=17660a9d94

30/01/2026

For three years, Buhle Sikade has protected herself from HIV with a twice-yearly injection.

From April 1, around 456 000 HIV-negative South Africans will be able to get the same jab — called lenacapavir (LEN) — for free at government clinics.

LEN works almost 100% to stop HIV through s*x and doesn’t require daily pills or condom negotiation. For young women facing high HIV and r**e risk, it’s a gamechanger.

https://bhekisisa.org/health-beat-shorts/2026-01-29-the-anti-hiv-jab-buhle-trusts-and-456-000-south-africans-can-soon-get-for-free/

29/01/2026

Young women aged 15–24 make up just 8% of South Africa’s population — but accounted for a third of new HIV infections last year.

That’s why Buhle Sikade joined a study testing LEN, a twice-yearly HIV prevention jab.

“It’s better to protect myself,” she says.

From April, thousands more young women can do the same.

For the past three years, Buhle Sikade, 22, has been using an injection that gives her almost foolproof protection against getting HIV through s*x — medicine that around 456 000 other HIV-negative people in South Africa will be able to get from 360 government clinics for free from April 1. Here’...

29/01/2026

For three years, Buhle Sikade has protected herself from HIV with a twice-yearly injection.

From April 1, around 456 000 HIV-negative South Africans will be able to get the same jab — called lenacapavir (LEN) — for free at government clinics.

LEN works almost 100% to stop HIV through s*x and doesn’t require daily pills or condom negotiation. For young women facing high HIV and r**e risk, it’s a gamechanger.

For the past three years, Buhle Sikade, 22, has been using an injection that gives her almost foolproof protection against getting HIV through s*x — medicine that around 456 000 other HIV-negative people in South Africa will be able to get from 360 government clinics for free from April 1. Here’...