Stats SA show that diabetes mellitus was the leading underlying natural cause of death in 2023, accounting for 27,692 deaths, or 5.8% of all recorded deaths, followed by cerebrovascular diseases, including strokes, at 5.4% of recorded deaths.
Hypertensive diseases were third, with 5.2%, or 25,018 deaths, while TB and HIV were fourth and fifth, respectively.
The figures point to a major shift in the country’s health crisis. As deaths from infectious diseases have declined, non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension have taken a growing share of lives.
Experts say the problem is not only about what happens in hospitals. It starts much earlier, with what people eat,…
Sunday Times: One of the most popular Sunday newspapers, known for its in-
depth reporting and investigative journalism.
German Coach
Skebenga / Skelm – a crook / gangster [skuh-beng-guh] A Zulu word for gangster.
Mud Pie Man
Fun South African Fact: South Africa in size is three times the size of Texas and five times the size of Japan.