From the source document added on 25.09.2026.
Diabetes has become South Africa’s leading cause of death, claiming about 79 lives a day.
According to Stats SA’s latest Mortality Report, diabetes accounted for 6.1 percent of the 474-thousand 366 deaths recorded in 2024.
The report shows that the country’s three leading causes of death are now non-communicable diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer and high blood pressure.
Illustrative stock photograph of a healthcare professional; not a person or event described in this report.
