Johannesburg – In a move to address late-stage cancer detection, Rio Tinto, Pink Drive and the Ministry of Health are bringing mobile cancer screening and primary health care services to communities in need.
The initiative, which begins in July and continues in August, will expand to Kwazulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, and the Northern Cape.
This expansion follows a successful outreach in 2024.
“65% of all natural causes of death caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDS) (according to the National Cancer Registry) are in line with South Africa's national health goals,” Rio Tinto said on Thursday, July 31, 2025.
These goals aim to reduce the burden of NCDs through early detection, prevention, and improved access to care.
“Werner Duvenhage, managing director of Africa Operations & RBM, Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium (RTIT), said:
“Through this collaboration, we can broaden our physical reach and make meaningful impacts in areas that are not physically present.
“This is an extension of our core value in care.”
Last year, outreach managed to achieve 7,695 successful candidates over two weeks, with this year's goal being to screen over 12,000 individuals and provide health education to even more.
“The CEO of Pinkdrive and founder of Noelene Kotschan said:
“Mobile healthcare models have proven innovative and effective at filling this gap.”
Mobile Clinic offers important services such as mammograms, pup smears, prostate-specific antigen testing, clinical breast testing, skin and lung cancer screening, and general health screening.
Qualified doctors, nurses, radiologists and health educators will receive free referrals to public health facilities where these services are arranged as needed.
This important initiative is funded by the Rio Tinto Social Investment Fund, which invests in projects that generate lasting socioeconomic benefits in the group's management market.
It complements existing local social programs and expands support to address key national socioeconomic needs.
