Johannesburg – In a move to address late-stage cancer detection, Rio Tinto, PinkDrive, and the Department of Health are bringing mobile cancer screenings and primary healthcare services to communities in need.
The initiative, which began in July and will continue in August will expand to KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, and the Northern Cape.
The expansion follows a successful outreach in 2024.
“With 65% of all natural causes of death attributed to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) (according to the National Cancer Registry), this initiative aligns with South Africa’s national health goals,” Rio Tinto said on Thursday, 31 July 2025.
These goals aim to reduce the burden of NCDs through early detection, prevention, and improved access to care, while also addressing social factors that impact health.
Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium (RTIT) Africa Operations & RBM Managing Director Werner Duvenhage said: “We are proud to once again collaborate with PinkDrive to bring these services closer to those who need them most.
“Through this collaboration, we can extend our reach and make a meaningful impact even in areas where we are not physically present.
“It is an extension of our core values of CARE.”
Last year, the outreach successfully reached 7 695 people over two weeks, and the goal for this year is to screen over 12 000 individuals and provide health education to many more.
CEO and Founder of PinkDrive, Noelene Kotschan, said: “Far too many South Africans are diagnosed late because they simply don’t have access to screening facilities.
“Our model of mobile healthcare has proven both innovative and effective in bridging this gap.”
The mobile clinics will provide essential services such as mammograms, pap smears, Prostate-Specific Antigen tests clinical breast examinations, skin and lung cancer screenings as well as general health screenings.
Qualified doctors, nurses, radiographers, and health educators will provide these services will be provided free of charge with referrals to public health facilities arranged where necessary.
This important initiative is funded by the Rio Tinto Social Investment Fund, which invests in projects that create lasting socio-economic benefits within the group’s operational markets.
It complements existing local social programmes and extends support to address key national socio-economic needs.
