Elna Schutz

Johannesburg

Journalist and Producer at Freelance

South African freelance journalist working in audio and writing. Podcast junkie and producer. Professionally Curious.

Articles

South Africa: New Book By Edwin Cameron Gives Practical Steps to Reform Prisons

2 weeks ago | allafrica.com | Elna Schutz |Elna Schütz

"The biggest public policy mistake of the last 125 years was the war on drugs" Prisons in South Africa are notoriously under strain. Insiders at the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services have written a book describing the problems with prisons. The book describes practical steps to reform the prison system. A new book taking deep dive into South Africa's correctional system and how it could be improved was launched in Johannesburg this week.
Hundreds of state mental health patients are being kept in prison

3 weeks ago | brnw.ch | Elna Schutz |Elna Schütz

Hundreds of state patients - people declared mentally unfit to stand trial or to be held criminally liable - are being kept in prisons rather than being treated in psychiatric hospitals. The number of state patients in prison has increased significantly over the past year. The Department of Correctional Services and the Department of Health are at odds over who should be responsible for these patients, and for how long.
South Africa: Closure of U.S.-Funded Cancer Clinic Further Burdens Public Hospitals

3 weeks ago | allafrica.com | Elna Schutz |Elna Schütz

Hundreds of patients will likely be transferred from the Cervical Cancer Screening and Prevention Clinic at Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg. A major clinic screening for cervical cancer in Johannesburg has shut down due to funding cuts by United States earlier this year. Doctors say state facilities are already overwhelmed, and the closure of this clinic will worsen the situation. Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in South Africa.
Hundreds of state mental health patients are being kept in prison

3 weeks ago | ewn.co.za | Elna Schutz |Elna Schütz

People who are found unfit to stand trial or be held criminally liable for a crime due to their psychiatric state are supposed to receive specialised care in the health system. But hundreds are being kept in prisons. And while the Department of Correctional Services and the Department of Health haggle over who should take responsibility, the number of these state patients is increasing.
Closure of US-funded cancer clinic further burdens public hospitals

3 weeks ago | groundup.org.za | Elna Schutz |Elna Schütz

A major clinic screening for cervical cancer in Johannesburg has shut down due to funding cuts by United States earlier this year. Doctors say state facilities are already overwhelmed, and the closure of this clinic will worsen the situation. Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in South Africa.
Donald Trump’s imaginary genocide

1 month ago | theneweuropean.co.uk | Elna Schutz |Elna Schütz

Last week, the first group of refugees from South Africa arrived in the United States and according to president Trump they were fleeing a “genocide”. Trump has been speaking about the plight of white South Africans for a while now, partly at the behest of Elon Musk. But if you ask most locals – or even our president – and you’ll hear a very different story. Around 50 people lined up quietly at the Johannesburg airport with piles of suitcases.
Why some babies in SA are still getting HIV

1 month ago | dailymaverick.co.za | Elna Schutz |Elna Schütz

SPOTLIGHT Despite an incredible reduction in the number of babies who acquire HIV from their mothers, many are still getting HIV in this way.
South Africa: Why Some Babies in South Africa Are Still Getting HIV

1 month ago | allafrica.com | Elna Schutz |Elna Schütz

Over the last two decades, South Africa made massive progress in reducing transmission of HIV from mothers to their babies. Even so, about 7 000 babies still contract the virus every year. Experts put this down to having the right puzzle pieces for prevention but failing to integrate them optimally.
Why some babies in South Africa are still getting HIV

1 month ago | spotlightnsp.co.za | Elna Schutz |Elna Schütz

Despite an incredible reduction in the number of babies who acquire HIV from their mothers, many are still getting infected in this way. (Photo: Ryan Graybill/Unsplash) News & Features14th May 2025 | Elna Schütz Over the last two decades, South Africa made massive progress in reducing transmission of HIV from mothers to their babies. Even so, about 7 000 babies still contract the virus every year.
SA’s only driving licence printing machine is finally working again

1 month ago | dailymaverick.co.za | Elna Schutz |Elna Schütz

GROUNDUP More than 747,000 South African motorists are waiting for their driving licences to be printed.