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Diabetes in Crisis: Inside the Johannesburg Declaration Media Breakfast

Posted on by Zukiswa Zimela
Youtube video

HEALA and the Diabetes Alliance hosted a powerful media breakfast unpacking South Africa’s growing diabetes crisis and the urgent need for action through the Johannesburg Declaration. Hosted by Bongiwe Zwane, the conversation brought together leading voices in public health and advocacy, including Nzama Mbalati, Dr Patrick Ngassa Piotie, and Amanda Mashego. The panel explored the systemic challenges shaping diabetes care in South Africa—from prevention and early detection to stigma, access to treatment, and the need for stronger policy action. With diabetes claiming thousands of lives each year, the discussion called for urgent, coordinated efforts to turn the tide. This media breakfast marks just the beginning. The real work starts now—taking the Johannesburg Declaration beyond the room and into communities across the country.

Confronting diabetes: South Africa’s urgent call for action following Johannesburg Declaration

Posted on by Zukiswa Zimela

Confronting diabetes: South Africa’s urgent call for action following Johannesburg Declaration

Johannesburg-15 April 2026- In a pivotal move toward addressing the escalating diabetes crisis in South Africa, the Healthy Living Alliance (HEALA) convened yet another dialogue focused on the challenges faced by the nation’s more than 4 million diabetic population.


This discussion followed the recent finalisation of the Johannesburg Declaration for Accelerated Action on Diabetes and served as a platform to galvanise public and media awareness around this pressing public health issue.


Held at the Southern Sun Hotel in Rosebank, the media breakfast event featured a dynamic panel discussion led by SABC anchor Bongiwe Zwane, alongside HEALA’s CEO, Nzama Mbalati, Dr Patrick Ngassa Piotie, Chairman of the Diabetes Alliance, as well as one of South Africa’s leading diabetes activist, Amanda Mashego.


These experts and stakeholders gathered to deliberate on the widespread implications of diabetes, which is increasingly cited as one of the world’s leading non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Mbalati, emphasised the vision outlined in the Johannesburg Declaration – a commitment to ensuring that every South African, irrespective of income, geography, gender, or health status, has access to equitable diabetes prevention and care.


“Following last year’s Diabetes Summit, we want to keep the momentum going. The commitments made in the declaration must not be allowed to gather dust,” Mbalati asserted.
Mbalati further highlighted the need for collective society efforts, from government to academia, to confront the diabetes crisis decisively.


Yet despite years of advocacy, government policies and interventions still lag significantly. Experts attending the panel highlighted the urgent need for greater empowerment and support for individuals living with diabetes, with Dr Ngassa Piotie, pointing out that the education given to medical students is inadequate when it comes to understanding the complexities of diabetes management. “There is a danger that we may repeat the same mistakes we made with HIV/Aids treatment. We need to empower communities and ensure that the next generation of healthcare professionals is well-equipped to manage diabetes,” laments Dr Ngassa Piotie.

While there has been a notable decrease in diabetes-related fatalities, from 95,000 in 2021 to just over 24,000 in 2024, the burden of diabetes continues to escalate, posing significant threats to public health and economic stability in South Africa. Both Dr Ngassa Piotie and Mashego, whose diagnoses in 2020 spurred her to take a keen interest in advocacy work, echoed the sentiment shared by other panelists that more proactive measures and education are vital.

Despite having found new and innovative ways to contribute positively to the discussions around diabetes, Mashego expressed her frustration over the lack of support available to young individuals living with diabetes.

“Sometimes I wonder what the future looks like for young people. I am angry, and my anger stems from the fact that when I was diagnosed in 2020, I faced the most challenging time of my life. I had to educate myself in real time. Sometimes when young people contact me, I am confronted by the burdens they face daily,” she shared passionately.


Mashego reveals that she is particularly concerned about young individuals forced to navigate their diabetes journeys alone, often without adequate familial or governmental assistance.
Her experience mirrors a broader issue plaguing young diabetics—many find themselves self-educating on managing their condition amidst societal stigma. “I had to deal with nurses who would just give you insulin without explaining anything. Some nurses hand you a handful of insulin, and for the next six months, you have to figure things out by yourself. That is why I am angry due to the many unfulfilled government promises,” she lamented, illustrating the pressing gap in education and support within the healthcare system.

This conversation served not only as a forum for discussion but as a rallying cry for urgent collective action against diabetes in South Africa. As stakeholders continue to push for accountability and reforms, the impact of diabetes on individuals and the healthcare system remains a poignant reminder of the work yet to be done.

Mbalati further stresses the importance of active, rather than passive activism, which he says is needed to move the country and the government towards a more practical approach to stemming the tide against the diabetes scourge.

“We cannot accept being satisfied with doing the bare minimum. Another thing is the private sector. We keep talking about the public sector, but the private sector also has a role to play. Also, people living with diabetes need to have a seat at the table when policies are being developed,” Mbalati concludes

HEALA pushes back against the recent ruling by the Advertising Regulatory Board 

Posted on by Zukiswa Zimela

PRESS RELEASE

IMMEDIATE: 08 SEPTEMBER 2025 

HEALA (Healthy Living Alliance), a non-profit organisation that advocates for healthy living and food justice for all, is appealing an Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB) ruling that found its public-interest advert on the harmful effects of sugary drinks misleading and inaccurate. 

The ARB claimed that the messaging of the HEALA advertisement in question was positioned as fact instead of opinion, further citing that it was specifically worded to shock consumers into believing that any consumption of sugary drinks would lead to disease. 

We at HEALA believe that, if anything, our advertisement simply urges South Africans to be mindful of what they eat – especially foods high in sugar, salt, saturated fats and sweeteners, which can increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke and other non-communicable diseases.


“This case is important because it will determine whether organisations such as HEALA can continue to run evidence-based public health campaigns without being unfairly restricted by advertising rules. It affects how civil society can raise awareness about diet-related diseases, such as obesity and diabetes, and advocate for policies like a stronger Health Promotion Levy. The appeal also raises key questions about freedom of expression, association, and the right to food and health, while setting an important precedent for non-commercial, advocacy-focused campaigns in South Africa. A ruling in HEALA’s favour would protect the space for public-interest advocacy and ensure that scientific evidence can be used to inform and protect communities,” notes HEALA CEO, Nzama Mbalati. 

HEALA, and its partners, believe the public should be made aware of how industry players often try to block life-saving policies through tactics such as the one outlined above. We also believe that people have the right to understand the grounds of this case, as our mission is to inform and educate South African consumers. Below, we share more details on the case and the next steps to help our partners and the public stay informed.

What was the cause of the case?

In October 2024, HEALA ran a campaign calling for a stronger Health Promotion Levy (the tax on sugary drinks). One of the advertisements, broadcast in Afrikaans, stated:

“Fizzy drinks and fruit juice make our children sick. With every sip, sugar is dumped into their bodies, leading to obesity, heart disease and diabetes as they age. We must protect our children from all drinks with sugar in them. Insist on a stricter health promotion levy now. Sign the petition on heala.org.”

A consumer lodged a complaint claiming that his daughter was distressed after hearing the HEALA advertisement. He argued that the advert wrongly implied that drinking sugary drinks will definitely cause serious illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes, and that the advertisement therefore amounted to misleading health claims. 

Who is the ARB?

According to the ARB’s website it is “South Africa’s official self-regulation body that adjudicates complaints about advertising content.”  

The ARB is directly funded by several industry bodies, including companies that produce sodas and sugary drinks – which is the very controversial product in the public health advertisement.

What did the ARB originally say?

The Directorate of the Advertising Regulatory Board originally upheld the consumer’s complaint against HEALA’s advert. It found that the statement suggesting sugary drinks and fruit juice “make our children sick” was misleading because it implied that any consumption of such drinks would directly cause diseases like obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. The Directorate concluded that the advert presented these health risks as inevitable outcomes rather than potential long-term effects, and therefore breached the Code of Advertising Practice. This ruling meant the advert could no longer be carried by ARB member platforms, prompting HEALA’s appeal.

What did the Appeal Committee conclude?

The Advertising Appeals Committee (AAC) dismissed HEALA’s appeal on 23 June 2025 and upheld the Directorate’s ruling against the advert. The AAC agreed the advert was misleading because it gave the impression that any sugary drink would automatically make children sick and cause diseases such as obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. The Committee also rejected HEALA’s argument that the advert was public-interest advocacy and should be exempt from the Code, and that it should instead be treated as a set of factual health claims. HEALA argues this misrepresents both the purpose and wording of the advert, which was clearly intended as public health advocacy to protect children and build support for strengthening the Health Promotion Levy. By focusing on one consumer’s reaction rather than the broader advocacy message, the AAC’s ruling has limited HEALA’s ability to share its evidence-based campaign with the public.

What are the key issues to be decided before the final appeal committee?

  • Accuracy and evidence supporting the advert. The appeal body is to consider that HEALA’s advert is grounded in scientific evidence and expert reports, which clearly support the claims made about the harms of sugary drinks. HEALA provided two independent expert reports providing that the claim was accurate and highlighting the significant health risk of soda and fruit juice consumption on health.
  • Proper interpretation of the advert. The appeal body is to assess whether the ARB misread the advert as claiming that any sugar consumption will inevitably cause disease, when in fact it communicates that sugary drinks can contribute to long-term health risks.
  • Public-interest advocacy versus commercial advertising. The appeal body should recognise that the advert is part of HEALA’s public health advocacy, aiming to protect children and encourage public support for a heftier Health Promotion Levy. 
  • Jurisdiction of the ARB. The appeal body should consider whether health-related claims fall within the regulatory authority of the Department of Health rather than the ARB, and whether the ARB exceeded its mandate.
  • Non-commercial nature and consumer impact. The appeal body should weigh whether the advert misleads or harms consumers, noting that it simply encourages public engagement through petitioning and access to information.
  • Constitutional rights and advocacy standards. The appeal body should consider whether the AAC’s ruling imposes unreasonable restrictions on public health advocacy and infringes constitutional rights, including freedom of expression, association, and the right to adequate nutrition and health.

Why is this case important?

  • Protecting public health messaging. The outcome will affect how organisations such as HEALA can communicate evidence-based health risks, especially around sugar and diet-related diseases.
  • Safeguarding advocacy space. A ruling in HEALA’s favour would reinforce the ability of civil society to campaign on public-interest matters without being unfairly constrained by advertising regulations beyond that of commercial advertising.
  • Encouraging evidence-based action. The case underscores the importance of using scientific evidence in public campaigns to inform the public and influence policy, such as strengthening the Health Promotion Levy.
  • Defending constitutional rights. The appeal raises critical questions about freedom of expression, freedom of association, and the right to food and health, particularly in public health advocacy contexts.
  • Setting a precedent for non-commercial campaigns. The decision could clarify how non-commercial, advocacy-focused adverts are treated under the Advertising Code, shaping the landscape for future public health campaigns.

What are possible outcomes?

The appeal could have a few different outcomes. The Final Appeal Committee might rule in HEALA’s favour, confirming that the advert was lawful public-interest advocacy and allowing the campaign to continue. It could also dismiss the appeal, upholding the AAC’s finding that the advert was misleading, which would limit HEALA’s ability to run similar campaigns through ARB member channels. The Committee could also issue a partial ruling, clarifying how health claims or non-commercial advocacy should be treated under the advertising code. Whatever the outcome, both HEALA and the consumer would have the option to take the matter to the High Court for further review, keeping the door open for additional legal scrutiny. 

HEALA, looks forward to engaging with other stakeholders including the National Department of Health, National Treasury, and the sugar industry. It is vital that we properly educate and engage all stakeholders on this and other serious issues that could have a dire effect on the health of our nation. The industry needs to start putting the lives of South Africans ahead of profits.   

Ends

About HEALA
HEALA is a coalition of civil society organisations advocating for equitable access to affordable, nutritious food in South Africa by building a more just food system.

For media enquiries and interviews, please contact:

Mr. Neo Merafi: 071 359 9738 or Neo@maverickbrand.co.za 

This World Health Day, HEALA calls on the government to protect our children’s health

Posted on by Zukiswa Zimela

Our children are growing up in an increasingly unhealthy food environment. Experts warn that the increased marketing of unhealthy food and beverages to children is leading to an increasingly obesogenic food landscape. This year’s theme, “Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures,” highlights the need for the government to prioritise the health and well-being of our country’s most valuable asset: our children.  

South Africa is facing a double burden of overnutrition and undernutrition. A staggering 27 percent of children in South Africa suffer from stunting. 

According to experts, “Chronic child malnutrition is one of the leading causes of stunting in children, which can be irreversible. Stunting can have short- and long-term consequences, including developmental delays, poor cognitive function, and an increased risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.”  

Conversely, an estimated 1 in 8 children under the age of 5 are overweight. This is due in part to the overconsumption of high-calorie diets rich in salt, sugar, and fats, leading to a childhood obesity crisis.  

As it stands, South Africa does not have any laws that curtail the marketing of unhealthy food to children.  

What can we do?

We are calling for the National Department of Health( NdoH) to fast-track the implementation of the R3337 regulations. Not only will these regulations make it easier for parents and caregivers to make informed decisions about the food they provide to their children, but they will also restrict the advertising of foods high in salt, sugar, and fats to children.  

HEALA is also calling for the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to intensify its efforts to enhance the school nutrition program, instead of further socialising young children into the consumption of health-devastating foods. These foods jeopardize the physical, mental, and emotional performance of children, and thereby their futures. 

A healthy nation is a prosperous nation, and our children deserve to be protected from predatory organisations seeking to target them for profit at the expense of their future health and well-being.    

ENDS

ABOUT HEALA 

HEALA is a coalition of civil society organisations advocating for equitable access to affordable, nutritious food in South Africa by building a more just food system.

For Media Interview please contact: 

 Zukiswa Zimela | Communications Manager HEALA

+2710 825 4403| zukiswa[@]heala.org

Food justice is a Women’s Rights issue

Posted on by Zukiswa Zimela

Thirty-year-old Siyakholwa Mkoka from Khayelitsha, a township in the Western Cape, lives in a seven-person household. Each month, the family has just R3000 to feed all seven mouths.

According to the July Household Affordability Index released by Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity “[y]ear-on-year: The cost of a basic nutritional food basket for a family of 7 members increased by R240,47 (3,9%) from R6 165,69 in July 2023 to R6 406,16 in July 2024.”

Mkoka’s family has less than half of what is needed to achieve a basic nutrition.

South Africa suffers from the triple burden of malnutrition, obesity, undernutrition (Stunting, low birth weight) and micronutrient deficiency. This overly affects women and the children they care for. 

“Most of the time we buy unhealthy food. It is rare that we buy healthy food. We buy coke every day. I am worried that the food we are eating will make us sick,” Mkoka says.

Almost 70% of all women in South Africa are overweight and obese, putting them at an increased risk of non-communicable diseases and death while malnutrition is the underlying cause of death in a third of child deaths in South Africa.

Mkoka is already concerned about her weight. “I was told that my weight was not good. I did try to cut down on food, however it is very difficult,” she says. 

“The challenge that we face is that the food (we buy) is very addictive,” she explains.

Experts are raising the alarm on the dietary intake of low-income adults in South Africa. According to one study, adults from low income households on average get 40% of their daily calories from ultra-processed food.  

Ultra-processed foods are often cheap, high in salt, saturated fat and sugar and are engineered to taste good. The overconsumption of these foods is linked to increased rates of obesity. 

The Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) warns that the, “common health effects of overweight and obesity raised BMI is a major risk factor for number of cancers such as breast  cancer (postmenopausal women), cancer of the colon, cancer of the rectum , cancer of the uterus, cervical cancer and endometrial cancer.

Making good food choices in an environment dominated by ultra-processed food is challenging for many due to low nutrition levels. Interventions like front-of-pack warning labels (FOPWL) can make it easier for everyone to readily identify foods high in salt, sugar and saturated fat and make better food choices.

For decades, the food and beverage industry has fed the public the myth that what we eat is our choice alone. This has created stigmatising and shaming narratives that lay the blame for non-communicable diseases such as obesity and diabetes squarely at consumers’ feet — ignoring the larger food system.

The FOPWL will also make it harder for corporations to market to vulnerable children by restricting the use of cartoons and  collectable toys to lure children to consume unhealthy foods. 

Mkoka explains that even on a tight budget, she often capitulates to her daughter’s pleas for an unhealthy snack. When they go shopping together, her four year old daughter begs her for a Kinder Joy egg because she wants the toy inside the snack. This puts further strain on an already tight budget and makes shopping more difficult.

This Women’s Month, HEALA is urging the government to adopt these vital regulations to support the improvement of health and wellbeing of all, particularly women and children. 

Ends.

About HEALA: HEALA is a coalition of civil society organisations advocating for equitable access to affordable, nutritious food in South Africa by building a more just food system.

For media interviews contact:

Zukiswa Zimela | Communications Manager HEALA

zukiswa [at] heala.org 

OP-ED: Our children’s health is not for sale

Posted on by Zukiswa Zimela

I don’t have kids, but as an aunt, I know what it’s like to have to resist the pressure from the little ones at the stores. It seems they have just what it takes to tug at my heartstrings, so I give in to their requests for unhealthy snacks with bright cartoon characters. Most parents and full-time care-givers know how hard it is to resist the pleas for sweets, sugary cereal, and treats with their children’s favourite characters. 

We know that children are the future. Unfortunately, food companies see children as future consumers. Big food companies are increasingly using Child Directed Marketing (CDM) to increase sales. CDM is targeted at children to influence them to want unhealthy food. Getting children hooked on unhealthy foods creates in them lifelong loyal fans. 

Industry players know the power children have in decision-making for household spend. A 2021 Paramount Insights report showed that South African children are media savvy. Seventy percent of parents said their children have an impact on household purchasing decisions. “The main categories that kids influence are entertainment (97%), food and groceries (94%), restaurant (89%), vacations and day trips (80%, and electronics (75%). Additionally, “65% of kids participate in decisions about the gifts their family buys for others,” the study found. 

This means that our children, who are vulnerable and can be tricked by these groups, are the perfect tool to get parents to spend money on unhealthy food.

This article was published on Longevity on the 26th of July 2024. Click HERE to read the full op-ed.

HEALA extends a warm welcome to the newly elected Health and Finance Ministers, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi and Mr Enoch Godongwana. 

Posted on by Zukiswa Zimela

In congratulating both Ministers, HEALA also urges them to prioritise the implementation of evidence-based policies that will address the triple burden of hunger, food insecurity, and obesity – and ultimately improve the health of ordinary South Africans. 

To date, South Africa faces alarming levels of hunger, food insecurity, and obesity stemming from a broken food system. Globally, ultra-processed foods high in salt, sugar, and fat are more available than ever before, particularly in low and middle-income countries such as South Africa. Diets high in these components significantly increase the risk of people developing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. 

According to Statistics South Africa, more and more people are dying from NCDs than ever before. Diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease rank among the top ten leading causes of natural deaths in South Africa, based on the latest figures from 2017.

“HEALA particularly wishes for the Health Minister, Dr Motsoaledi, to speed up regulation on food labelling to assist ordinary South Africans in making informed food choices, to initiate coordinated mechanisms and resource mobilisation towards government and civil society as well as support improvement of the school food environment, champion taxation and regulation of unhealthy products such as sugary drinks, tobacco and alcohol,” says HEALA CEO Nzama Mbalati. 

HEALA believes the government has ample evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of the Health Promotion Levy (HPL) and Front-of-Pack Warning Labels (FOPL) in addressing many of the health issues plaguing ordinary South Africans.

Previous HPL evidence has shown that public health policies, which increase the price of harmful products, can reduce consumption. However, there is potential to do even more. Government can allocate the funds generated from the levy towards addressing issues of hunger and poverty by increasing the Child Grant and subsidising healthier foods.  

HEALA calls on Finance Minister Mr Godongwana to protect the gains made by the levy by increasing it to 20%, and expanding it to include fruit juices. We also urge Health Minister Dr Motsoaledi to fast-track the implementation of easy-to-read warning labels and empower ordinary South Africans to make better food choices.

In South Africa, essential nutritional information is buried at the back of canned products, boxes, and bottles, making it difficult for consumers to read or decipher the food labels. Implementing front-of-package labelling can translate necessary nutritional information into simple language and prominently display it on the front of food products.

The FOPL regulation will also protect children from predatory marketing practices employed by food manufacturers who use fancy marketing strategies to seduce vulnerable children into being addicted to unhealthy food.

The South African health system is buckling under the weight of NCDs. Two years ago, researchers found that “overweight and obesity cost South Africa’s health system R33 billion (US$1.9bn) a year. This represents 15.38% of government health expenditure and is equivalent to 0.67% of GDP. Annual per person cost of overweight and obesity was R2 769”. The cost of inaction in addressing this issue for both the state and the individual is too high. 

 HEALA remains committed to holding government leaders accountable for their responsibility in ensuring that the food environment benefits ordinary people rather than industry profits.

We are calling on the newly elected ministers to put food justice on the political agenda and create a healthier, more equitable future for all South Africans.

“HEALA is confident in Dr Motsoaledi’s expertise, enthusiasm and the political will he demonstrated in his previous tenure as Health Minister,  during which he prioritised pivotal public health policies and initiatives aimed at improving the health of all South Africans,” concludes Mbalati. 

Ends.

About HEALA: HEALA is a coalition of civil society organisations advocating for equitable access to affordable, nutritious food in South Africa by building a more just food system.

For media interviews contact

Zukiswa Zimela | HEALA Communications Manager

zukiswa[@]heala.org

World Hunger Day — a chance for South Africa to vote for food justice

Posted on by Zukiswa Zimela

South Africa faces a nutritional crisis of a double burden of under and overnutrition. Over half a million South African households that have children under five years old face hunger every day.  This has led to a quarter of our children being stunted (an indicator of chronic malnutrition).

Stunting does not only disadvantage the individual into adulthood but also ultimately affects national development due to its health and economic consequences. Children who are stunted at two years old are likely to be stunted as adults. They are also at high risk of developing chronic diseases and obesity in adulthood (let’s not forget that 1 in 8 South African children under five years are already overweight or obese).

As these kids’ brains have not developed properly, a magnitude of intellectual issues persist such as reduced cognitive ability, fewer schooling years achieved, poor attainment of job opportunities, and lower wages later in life.  This proposes many economic consequences for individuals, households, and our country, including higher healthcare costs.

Read the rest of the article in Daily Maverick.

Chew On This Episode 1: How is Big Food violating our right to nutritious food?

Posted on by Zukiswa Zimela
Youtube video

South Africa suffers from high levels of hunger, food insecurity, and obesity — all of which are consequences of the country’s broken food system. It is only by fixing South Africa’s broken food system will the country be able to guarantee everyone equitable access to affordable, nutritious food. This webinar explores the role Big Food plays in our ability to access nutritious food and how evidence based policies can address these issues.

WEBINAR: My Health, My Right: The Importance of regulating the food environment to eliminate over and under nutrition

Posted on by Zukiswa Zimela

HEALA cordially invites you to our upcoming webinar scheduled for April 24 at 15.30 SAST. The webinar titled “My Health, My Right: The Importance of regulating the food environment to eliminate over and under nutrition” is aimed at highlighting the grim reality of the food environment in South Africa. Currently, the country is battling a double burden of over and under-nutrition.

Experts warn that Ultra-Processed Food consumption may be associated with a higher risk of obesity, overweight, and stunting in low and middle-income countries. New research by Dr. Tamryn Frank shows that low-income South African adults consume, on average, 40% of their calories from ultra-processed products. We live in a society where eight million children go hungry every day. Dr. Edzani Mphaphuli will discuss the dangers of stunting and malnutrition for the wellbeing of children throughout their lives.

HEALA’s Programmes Manager, Petronell Kruger, will speak about the need for evidence-based regulations to fix South Africa’s broken food system and guarantee everyone equitable access to affordable, nutritious food.

RSVP HERE