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Tamar Kahn

Tamar Kahn has reported on health and science for Business Day since 2001. She has won awards for news, features and analysis published in Business Day and its sister publication, the Financial Mail, and was the recipient of a Rosalyn Carter fellowship for mental health reporting.

Aspen cites a lack of guaranteed demand for its decision to pull out of government plans for local production of the HIV prevention shot. Picture:

EC drugmaker Aspen retreats from HIV jab lenacapavir

The drugmaker cites a lack of government purchase commitments as it focuses on Merck’s experimental monthly pill alimatravir instead

  • Tamar Kahn
South Africa was the first African country to legalise gay marriages 10 years ago. Thoba Sithole, a Zulu from KwaDukuza, married Tshepo Modisane, a Tswana from Johannesburg. Picture:

South Africans more accepting of LGBTI people over the past decade: report

A new report from the Other Foundation, based on data from the Human Sciences Research Council, finds that South Africans have become more accepting of LGBTI people over the past decade

  • Tamar Kahn
US President Donald Trump. File picture

‘Don’t stop HIV aid funding,’ De Klerk Foundation urges Trump

The FW de Klerk Foundation has appealed to US President Donald Trump to reconsider the decision to end the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (Pepfar) funding to South Africa

  • Tamar Kahn
Adcock Ingram has been referred to the Competition Tribunal for prosecution for allegedly overcharging patients for its kidney dialysis products.

Adcock accused of overcharging dialysis patients during Covid

Competition watchdog pursues excessive-pricing case over kidney treatment products

  • Tamar Kahn
Constitutional Court scraps health minister’s power to control where doctors work.
HEALTH

NHI power to decide doctors’ workplaces ruled unconstitutional

Apex court scraps certificate of need to prevent lasting damage to health system

  • Tamar Kahn
Health minister Aaron Motsoaledi, centre. Picture: Business Day/

Health minister walks back comments on the impartiality of the judiciary

Health minister Aaron Motsoaledi has retracted comments that appeared to question the impartiality of Constitutional Court judges regarding the National Health Insurance Act, clarifying that he fully trusts the judiciary's fairness and…

  • Tamar Kahn
Health minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi with Ngwako Maenetje at the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg on May 5 2026.

Retract attack on judges’ character, Judges Matter urges Aaron Motsoaledi

Health minister’s remarks raise questions about interference with courts, says advocacy group.

  • Tamar Kahn
President Cyril Ramaphosa. Picture:
CYRIL RAMAPHOSA

Ramaphosa weighs legal options after Phala Phala ruling

President Cyril Ramaphosa is weighing his legal options after Friday’s Constitutional Court ruling that parliament must reopen impeachment proceedings over his handling of the theft of cash from his game farm.

  • Thando Maeko
  • Tamar Kahn
January 22, 2026.Minister of Higher Education and Training Buti Manamela briefs the media on the plans of the post school Education and Training (PSET) sector for the 2026 accademic year as well as state of readiness thereof held at the Ronnie Mamoepa media Centre in Pretoria. Picture: Freddy Mavunda © Business Day

NSFAS placed under administration — for the third time

Hlengani Mathebula appointed administrator after Manamela dissolves board

  • Tamar Kahn
Dignity SA chair Willem Landman.
HEALTH

DignitySA launches legal challenge to end ban on assisted dying

The non-profit group argues the current legislation is at odds with the constitution

  • Tamar Kahn
The health department told parliament last year that it wanted medical tax credits to be phased out to help fund National Health Insurance (NHI), potentially starting with high-income earners as soon as April. File photo
BUDGET 2026

BUDGET 2026 | Treasury declines health department’s call to phase out medical tax credits

Credits increased in line with inflation, contrary to health department's plan

  • Tamar Kahn
Finance minister Enoch Godongwana has placed education at the centre of the 2026/2027 medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF), with basic education emerging as a clear funding priority.

Education a priority, with largest share of 2026/2027 budget

Finance minister Enoch Godongwana has placed education at the centre of the 2026/2027 medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF), with basic education emerging as a clear funding priority.

  • Kgaugelo Gumede
  • Tamar Kahn
  • Aphiwe Deklerk
Minister Enoch Godongwana at the media briefing ahead of the national budget speech at Imbizo Media Centre on February 25, 2026 in Cape Town.
BUDGET 2026

BUDGET 2026 | Treasury declines health department’s call to phase out medical tax credits

Credits increased in line with inflation, contrary to health department's plan

  • Tamar Kahn
The value of the grant remains frozen at R370. Picture:
BUDGET 2026

BUDGET 2026 | Poor to still get R370 grant

Treasury increases all other welfare grants in line with inflation.

  • Tamar Kahn
President Cyril Ramaphosa hinted at the possibility of additional funding in his state of the nation address (Sona) earlier this month, saying the government had classified FMD as a national disaster and would be “mobilising all necessary capabilities within the state” to deal with the crisis. Picture Eugene Coetzee File photo

Agriculture department lobbying Treasury for more money to fight foot and mouth disease

The agriculture department has asked the Treasury for additional funding to combat South Africa’s devastating outbreak of foot and mouth (FMD) disease, its top official told parliament on Tuesday.

  • Tamar Kahn