​In an effort to increase public awareness and education in areas where tuberculosis (TB) remains a pressing public health concern, the Gauteng Department of Health joined the global community to commemorate World TB Day by shining a spotlight on the health challenges faced by mining communities.
MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko on Thursday, 27 March 2025 led the World Stop TB Day commemorative event at Kusasalethu Harmony Gold Mine near Carletonville in the West Rand, under the theme "You and I Can End TB". The event highlighted the urgent need to expand access to TB screening, particularly in the mining community.  
According to World Health Organisation, South Africa is one of the 30 high TB burden countries, accounting for 87% of the global burden. It is among ten countries facing a triple burden of TB, TB/HIV and multi-drug-resistant TB (MDR-TB). 
In Gauteng, the West Rand is the smallest district where mining is the primary economic driver, contributing 28.6% to the local economy. The TB incidence in the mining sector is alarmingly high at 544 cases per 100 000 people, higher than the National Average of 270 cases per 100 000 people, mainly attributed to by Silica dust exposures known to increase the risk of contracting TB by three times.
During the event, comprehensive health services including TB and HIV screening and educational material designed to empower community members with knowledge about TB prevention and treatment were provided. Other services include screening for hypertension, diabetes and oral health services amongst others. 
MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko emphasised the importance of access to health services, stating that "access to quality health services in our mining communities is essential in the fight against TB. As Gauteng, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that every mine worker and their families have the healthcare they need, whether it's for TB, HIV, or other health concerns. As society, we must take collective action to provide comprehensive health support and resources."
Mortality remains stubbornly high, and treatment success rate in Gauteng stands at 67.4% below the target of 90% if you look at TB stats for Quarter 2 in 2023. Even more concerning is that  7% of TB patients are lost to follow-up. The TB outcomes data of Quarter 2 in 2022 shows that 614 lives were lost to the disease during that period. This is worrisome given that TB is curable. The focus is on identifying missing TB cases in peri-mining communities, aligning with version 3.0 of the TB Recovery Plan. The plan focuses on finding undiagnosed TB, improving linkage to treatment, retaining patients in care, and preventing transmission, especially among people living with HIV.
As part of the day's activities, MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko conducted a walkabout at Harmony Gold Mine's Kusasalethu Medical Hub, which is a facility providing comprehensive health services to mineworkers. The hub offers crucial services including HIV and TB testing and treatment, emergency medical services, acute and chronic care, X-ray services and psychosocial support. 
Nthatuwa Ramaru, a community member from Wedela attending the World Stop TB Day commemorative event, spoke about her understanding of the #EndTBCampaign, which aims to ensure that people are screened and tested for TB and those found to have the disease are put on treatment. She stated that "it is important that we all participate in this campaign. Getting tested and treated for TB can save lives and we need to encourage our families and friends to always prioritise their health."
In support of the national 5 million TB screening campaign launched by the Minister of Health and SANAC during the National World Stop TB campaign, Gauteng committed to screening 1.4 million people. The campaign entails tracing and testing of all contacts of Diagnosed TB patients, testing of all People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and testing of previous TB patients at 6 and 12 months. This campaign is about finding those that were missed — and bringing them back into care before it's too late.
Meanwhile, Gauteng has already screened over 30,000 community members for TB through the district-wide build-up campaigns. In partnership with the Medical Bureau for Occupational Diseases (MBOD) and other stakeholders an initiative to trace ex-mine workers who may be eligible for social security benefits for work-related illnesses and possible provident/pension funds due to them has been launched to mitigate the broader social and economic consequences of unaddressed occupational health impacts. The programme, which commenced on 24 March 2025 is currently underway in the West Rand and so far over 1 560 ex-miners have been registered and screened at the various community halls that have been set up in the three sub districts. This will eventually be rolled out to all the mining communities in the province.