Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global health concern, accounting for 1.5 million deaths in 2018. South Africa is among eight countries that together contribute two thirds of the world’s TB burden. TB is the leading cause of death in South Africa, particularly among people aged 15 to 44 years, accounting for 6.5 per cent of all natural deaths in 2016. High mortality rates are caused by, among others, late diagnosis, low adherence to TB treatment, and co-infection with HIV, which further weakens and compromises TB patients’ immune systems. While TB is the number one cause of death for men in South Africa and only the number five cause for women, it is important to note that the TB disease can have particularly severe consequences for women, especially during their productive and reproductive years.