Gauteng reports 414 malaria cases and 11 deaths in first quarter

The province recorded more deaths in three months than in all of 2025, with officials citing festive season travel to endemic areas.

The Gauteng health department reported 414 confirmed malaria cases and 11 deaths between January and March 2026, representing a sharp increase compared with the same period in 2025, when the province recorded 230 cases and one death¹²³. The 11 deaths in the first quarter already exceed the seven deaths recorded across the entire 2025 calendar year, when Gauteng registered 666 cases¹²³.

The department attributed the increase to travel during the festive season to malaria-endemic regions, including Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi⁴⁵⁶. Tebogo Matjokotja, programme manager for communicable disease control at the Gauteng health department, said most of the cases originated from Mozambique, accounting for nine of the 11 deaths⁴.

The World Health Organisation reported in February that South Africa faced a "very high risk" of malaria due to recent floods in Limpopo and Mpumalanga⁵. The January floods damaged 78 schools, 138 health facilities and 59 farms, prompting the government to declare a state of national disaster⁵. Researchers from the University of Pretoria warned in February that the floods created ideal conditions for malaria-carrying Anopheles mosquitoes⁵.

The department urged residents to seek immediate medical attention if they experience fever, chills, headache and fatigue, particularly after travelling to high-risk areas¹²⁶. Matjokotja said individuals with flu-like symptoms including high fever, nausea and chills should consult healthcare providers quickly⁴. The department warned that delays in diagnosis and treatment can lead to severe illness and death¹².

Malaria is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito¹²³. The department said surveillance data indicate an urgent need for strengthened surveillance, early detection and prompt treatment to prevent loss of life¹².