Deputy President Paul Mashatile delivered the keynote closing address at the ninth [1] South African Tuberculosis (TB) Conference on Thursday, June 11, 2026 [2].
The address underscores the South African government's commitment to eradicating tuberculosis, a disease that continues to pose a significant public health challenge both domestically and internationally.
Speaking at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg [3], Mashatile appeared in his capacity as the Chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC). He used the platform to highlight current progress in the fight against the disease while calling for more aggressive action to rid the world of TB [4].
The conference served as a gathering for health experts and policymakers to review strategies for containment and treatment. Mashatile said that the global community must do more to ensure that tuberculosis is eliminated as a public health threat.
As the ninth [1] edition of this specific summit, the event focused on the intersection of TB and other health crises. The Deputy President said that the fight against TB is inextricably linked to broader health initiatives managed by SANAC [4].
The closing session concluded with a call for increased collaboration between government bodies, and international health organizations to accelerate the eradication process. Mashatile said that the current trajectory requires additional urgency to meet global health targets [4].
“Call for greater action to eradicate tuberculosis globally”
By linking the TB response to the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC), the government is acknowledging the high rate of co-infection between HIV and tuberculosis. This approach suggests that South Africa views the eradication of TB not as a standalone medical goal, but as a critical component of a broader integrated strategy to manage infectious diseases that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations.
