The fight against tuberculosis (TB) in the Western Cape has gained new momentum, with the province recording its highest-ever TB testing figures. This is a clear sign that efforts to end the disease are intensifying.

The fight against tuberculosis (TB) in the Western Cape has gained new momentum

Ahead of World TB Day earlier this month, the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness confirmed that nearly 40,000 people were tested for TB in February 2026 alone. This milestone reflects a sustained and strategic scale-up of testing across the province. Between 2023 and 2025, annual TB testing increased dramatically, from just over 207,000 to more than 356,000.

This is an additional 150,000 people screened in only two years. Health authorities say this expansion is critical to finding TB early, starting treatment sooner and preventing further transmission.

Fight Against TB Grows Stronger

Western Cape Health and Wellness MEC, Mireille Wenger, said the province is strengthening its response by prioritising vulnerable communities and taking services closer to where people live and work. She stressed that TB is both preventable and curable, and that no one should miss out on care because of their circumstances.

World TB Day was marked with a flagship event in Caledon, drawing more than 3,000 people. Outreach activities also took place across the province. These included walkathons, community screenings, school education sessions and mobile services at taxi ranks, farms and places of worship. This reinforced the message that TB care is accessible and free.

Western Cape Records Highest-Ever Testing Levels

From April 2025 to February 2026, more than 48,000 people were diagnosed with TB in the Western Cape, nearly half of them aged between 25 and 44. Integrated TB and HIV services, along with campaigns such as Close the Gap and End TB, are helping improve access to treatment and patient support. Health officials say the message is clear: the Western Cape’s fight against TB is stronger than ever — and communities are at the centre of the solution.