Mpumalanga's Health MEC Sasekani Manzini has called for collaboration with Mozambique and Eswatini to tackle a malaria outbreak that has caused four deaths and 858 cases since the start of the year. The province marked World Malaria Day in Nkomazi, where recent floods have boosted mosquito breeding. Officials note many cases are imported from across the borders.
Mpumalanga province has reported 858 malaria cases and four deaths since January, with Nkomazi—east of Malelane and bordering Mozambique and Eswatini—among the hardest-hit areas. Health MEC Sasekani Manzini stated that devastating floods in January, followed by recent ones, have created ideal conditions for mosquito breeding.
The province held World Malaria Day commemorations in KwaMhlushwa, within Nkomazi Local Municipality, emphasising efforts to accelerate malaria elimination. Manzini highlighted the need for cross-border cooperation, saying: “We have programmes – you see now we are here in Nkomazi because we are bordering with Mozambique and Eswatini, that’s how we know our cases come from outside the country. And we have recorded four deaths – these deaths are from people with a history of travelling outside the country, hence it’s important that we work together with the neighbouring countries.”
Gauteng province has recorded 141 confirmed malaria cases and 11 deaths in the same period, according to provincial reports.