SA Heart® highlights World Heart Month with Check My Beat, bringing heart health to Bara Taxi Rank
blue background with a man who has his hand his heat. Copy is urging people to get their heart checked out. Some words like "woza mshayeli" are written in vernacular as the even will be held at bara taxi rank
JOHANNESBURG, 14 SEPTEMBER 2026 – The South African Heart Association® (SA Heart®) will highlight World Heart Month through its Check My Beat campaign, an initiative focused on raising awareness of cardiovascular health, prevention and the importance of early screening.
Cardiovascular disease remains a significant health challenge in South Africa, with approximately 225 South Africans dying from heart disease every day. One in three adult South Africans live with high blood pressure, while up to 80% of heart disease and strokes can be prevented before the age of 65 through lifestyle changes. These figures highlight the importance of prevention and making cardiovascular health a priority before serious health complications occur.
Through Check My Beat, SA Heart® is taking this conversation directly into the community, with a focus on taxi drivers as a key audience for preventative healthcare. The campaign will culminate in a community screening event at Bara Taxi Rank in Johannesburg on 15 September 2026, where taxi drivers will have an opportunity to access cardiovascular health screening and engage with healthcare professionals about prevention and early detection.
Taxi drivers can face a number of challenges that make preventative healthcare difficult to prioritise, including long working hours, limited opportunities for physical activity, reliance on convenient food options and the pressures associated with working in a busy transport environment. These factors can contribute to lifestyle behaviours that increase cardiovascular risk.
“Cardiovascular health requires greater attention, particularly when it comes to prevention and early screening. We know that many of the risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease can be addressed through healthier lifestyle choices and early intervention. Through Check My Beat, we are taking this conversation directly into communities and making access to screening and health education more convenient and relevant to the people we want to reach.” says Dr David Jankelow, cardiologist and previous president of SA Heart®.
Check My Beat is a multi-stakeholder initiative, bringing together SA Heart® and partners Anglo American, Betway Cares Foundation, Cipla, Jozi My Jozi, Nahana Foundation, Syntro-P and the University of the Witwatersrand to support a shared focus on cardiovascular health awareness, prevention and community engagement.
The initiative combines cardiovascular screening with an innovative, personalised experience. Taxi drivers will undergo quick, screenings that assess blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose and other vital heart health indicators, supported by the campaign's healthcare and technology partners. The experience will also include an AI-powered selfie screen, adding an interactive element to the screening journey.
Following their screening, participating taxi drivers will receive a personalised “Heart Health Track”, an AI-generated song created specifically for them. The tracks will use Maskandi-inspired music, incorporating heartbeat rhythms and personalised messages that encourage healthier choices and prioritising cardiovascular health.
The personalised tracks will be shared with drivers after their screening, giving them a unique and memorable way to take the heart-health message with them beyond the taxi rank.
“We want to make cardiovascular health something people can engage with in a way that feels relevant to their everyday lives. The Heart Health Tracks give drivers a personal reminder of the importance of looking after their health, while using technology and music to make the message memorable. This collaborative approach allows us to bring together healthcare, innovation and community engagement to create a meaningful experience for the people we are reaching.” says Mandi Fine, Board member of SA Heart® and co-founder of the Check my Beat project.
The 15 September screening event at Bara Taxi Rank will provide an opportunity for SA Heart® to engage directly with taxi drivers through cardiovascular screening, health education and conversations around prevention.
Through Check My Beat, SA Heart® aims to build greater awareness of cardiovascular disease, encourage early screening and promote healthier behaviours, while reinforcing the importance of prioritising cardiovascular health throughout the year.
As World Heart Month takes place across South Africa, SA Heart® encourages people to take proactive steps towards understanding and managing their cardiovascular health.
