About Health-e News
About Health-e News
Health-e News is a South African independent, non-profit health newsroom. Since 1999, we have reported on the health issues facing the millions of South Africans who depend on the public healthcare system — and we put patients and communities at the centre of our stories.
What we cover
We publish original journalism on public health, health systems and the social conditions that shape both: water, sanitation, housing, food security, gender-based violence, climate and mental health. Our work spans grassroots news, explainers, and long-form features. All Health-e News stories are free to read. We publish under a Creative Commons licence, so other newsrooms, NGOs and educators are welcome to republish our work at no cost, with attribution.
How we work
Health-e News is built around a network of journalists and community reporters in places national newsrooms rarely cover — rural villages, townships and small towns across multiple provinces. Through our OurHealth community journalism programme, we train and support reporters who live in the communities they cover, so the people most affected by health and service-delivery failures are the ones telling the story.
Our independence
Health-e News is editorially independent. We are funded by grants from foundations and donor partners, and by readers who choose to support our work. Funders have no influence over what we cover or how we cover it. We are a member of the Press Council of South Africa and bound by the South African Press Code; complaints may be lodged with the Press Council.
Health-e News
Health-e News is South Africa's dedicated public health news service and home to OurHealth citizen journalism. Follow us on Twitter @HealtheNews
Prof. Chrysis Sofianos
Professor Chrysis Sofianos is a triple board-certified plastic surgeon and Academic Head of the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of the Witwatersrand.
Brigitte Read
Brigitte Read is Health-e News’ Associate Editor. She works on creating innovative journalism projects and believes effective health reporting can empower and transform communities.
Lucas Phelwane
Lerato Kodisang
Lerato Kodisang from Orange Farm, is a mental health facilitator, a former deputy chairperson for research sector in Gauteng for SANAC civil society forum, and a freelance journalist.
Keletso Mkhwanazi
Keletso Mkhwanazi is a South African investigative journalist with a proven track record of delivering impactful stories that drive change. She has worked as a freelance reporter since 2016.
Lucas Phelwane
Leon de Beer
Leon de Beer is the Deputy Director for the South African Federation for Mental Health.
Thabang Thembani
Thabang Thembani is from the mine-hosting town of Nyakallong, where they've witnessed firsthand the impact of mining on local communities. As a dedicated community advocate and activist, Thabang has been instrumental in highlighting social and environmental challenges faced by residents. Their work includes community monitoring, reporting on issues like the Voelpan Dam's effect on Mosala Secondary School, and advocating for the rights and well-being of Nyakallong's community. Through their efforts, Thabang aims to bring about positive change and promote sustainable development in their hometown.
Tholakele Mbonani
Tholakele Mbonani is a seasoned journalist with over 10 years of experience in community-centered storytelling, currently focusing on health, development, and social impact reporting.
Moyahabo Mabeba
Moyahabo Mabeba is an all-rounder reporter whose journalism career spans almost three decades.
Over the years, he has covered human interest stories, focusing on the plight of the vulnerable.
The former editor of The Journal newspaper has many in stints with several national publications. A softball fanatic to the core, he also moonlights as a marketing and publicity cadre in sports circles.
Keletso Mkhwanazi
Keletso Mkhwanazi is a South African investigative journalist with a proven track record of delivering impactful stories that drive change. She has worked as a freelance reporter since 2016.
Adél Van Niekerk
Adél van Niekerk is News Editor at Health-e News. Her journalism focuses on the people behind the headlines, connecting wider health and social trends to what happens on the ground when public systems fail them.
Bernard Chiguvare
Bernard Chiguvare, a Zimbabwean-born journalist, has dedicated his career to social justice reporting. Since 2015, he has contributed to GroundUp. Bernard started writing for Limpopo Mirror in 2019. In 2024 he published a story with Dialogue Earth, an international publication.
Thabang Thembani
Thabang Thembani is from the mine-hosting town of Nyakallong, where they've witnessed firsthand the impact of mining on local communities. As a dedicated community advocate and activist, Thabang has been instrumental in highlighting social and environmental challenges faced by residents. Their work includes community monitoring, reporting on issues like the Voelpan Dam's effect on Mosala Secondary School, and advocating for the rights and well-being of Nyakallong's community. Through their efforts, Thabang aims to bring about positive change and promote sustainable development in their hometown.
Thabang Thembani
Thabang Thembani is from the mine-hosting town of Nyakallong, where they've witnessed firsthand the impact of mining on local communities. As a dedicated community advocate and activist, Thabang has been instrumental in highlighting social and environmental challenges faced by residents. Their work includes community monitoring, reporting on issues like the Voelpan Dam's effect on Mosala Secondary School, and advocating for the rights and well-being of Nyakallong's community. Through their efforts, Thabang aims to bring about positive change and promote sustainable development in their hometown.
Tembile Sgqolana
Lerato Kodisang
Lerato Kodisang from Orange Farm, is a mental health facilitator, a former deputy chairperson for research sector in Gauteng for SANAC civil society forum, and a freelance journalist.
Thabang Thembani
Thabang Thembani is from the mine-hosting town of Nyakallong, where they've witnessed firsthand the impact of mining on local communities. As a dedicated community advocate and activist, Thabang has been instrumental in highlighting social and environmental challenges faced by residents. Their work includes community monitoring, reporting on issues like the Voelpan Dam's effect on Mosala Secondary School, and advocating for the rights and well-being of Nyakallong's community. Through their efforts, Thabang aims to bring about positive change and promote sustainable development in their hometown.
Dr Nombuso Madonsela
Dr Nombuso Madonsela is the Country Programme Director for the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) South Africa
