Bennie Hlongo

Anova Health Institute NPC (Anova) is a South African organisation that works with the government to support public health programmes. In connection with these programmes, Anova staff may have recorded information about patients and programme participants on a computer system. Anova has recently become aware that an unauthorised and unknown third party gained access to this system and copied some of this information. If you have received an SMS from Anova about this incident, directing you to this website notification, your information was affected. What information was affected The affected information may include names, ID numbers, dates of birth, sex, addresses and phone numbers. It may also include information about health and medical treatment, including treatment start dates (where applicable). Some of this information may allow conclusions to be drawn about your health circumstances. In addition, if you were nominated by a patient as a support buddy, some of your personal information may also have been affected. This more limited information includes your name, phone number, relationship to the patient, and address. What could happen because of this You may receive unwanted phone calls, text messages or emails from people pretending to be from a bank, government office or other organisation. They may try to trick you into giving them money or more personal information. Someone may try to use your ID number to open accounts or get credit in your name without your permission. This is called identity theft. Your health information could be shared with other people. Anova understands that this could cause worry. What has Anova done Anova has taken the affected system offline and is keeping it offline while we make it more secure. External experts are helping us with the investigation and recovery. It is important to note that Anova’s core operational systems were not affected — they remain safe and working. Anova’s health programmes and services continue as normal. What you can do to protect yourself Be careful of anyone who contacts you about your personal or health information. If someone contacts you by phone, text message, WhatsApp, email or in person and claims to know about your health or asks for money — do not respond. Report it to the police. Keep your ID and other important documents safe. If you are worried that someone may misuse your ID number, you can register with the South African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS). This tells banks and credit providers to check your identity carefully before giving credit in your name. This service is free. Register at www.safps.org.za or call 011 867 2234. Check your bank accounts and SASSA accounts for any payments or withdrawals you did not make. If you see anything unusual, tell your bank or SASSA straight away. No employer, landlord, community leader, or anyone else may treat you unfairly because of your health. If anyone uses any information against you, you have the right to take action. You can report unfair treatment to the South African Human Rights Commission (Phone: 011 877 3600; Email: info@sahrc.org.za or complaints@sahrc.org.za; Address: Sentinel House, Sunnyside Office Park, 32 Princess of Wales Terrace, Parktown, Johannesburg). If it happens at work, you can report it to the CCMA. Please keep going for your healthcare appointments and follow your healthcare provider’s advice. This incident does not change the confidential relationship between you and your healthcare provider. If you feel worried, upset or unsafe because of this incident, you can call the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) helpline at 0800 567 567. This call is free from a landline. You can also speak to a counsellor at your healthcare facility. Contact If you think you may be affected, or if you want to know what personal information Anova has about you, please contact us on WhatsApp at +27 83 469 5964. Do not send your ID or health information by SMS. We sincerely regret that this incident has occurred. Anova remains committed to protecting your information and is taking all appropriate steps in response.  Zulu  15 October 2026: Isaziso esibalulekile mayelana nolwazi lwakho siqu I-Anova Health Institute NPC (i-Anova) inhlangano yaseNingizimu Afrika esebenza nohulumeni ukusekela izinhlelo zezempilo zomphakathi. Ngokuhambisana nalezi zinhlelo, abasebenzi be-Anova bangase babe nolwazi olubhaliwe mayelana neziguli nabahlanganyeli benhlelo ohlelweni lwekhompyutha. I-Anova isanda kuqaphela ukuthi umuntu wesithathu ongagunyaziwe futhi ongaziwa uthole ukufinyelela kulesi sikhulu futhi wakhopa olunye lwalolu lwazi. Uma uthole i-SMS evela kwa-Anova mayelana nalesi sigameko, ekukhombisa kulokhu okwaziswayo kwi-website, imininingwane yakho ithintekile. Yimaphi imininingwane ethintekile Imibhalo ethintekile ingabandakanya amagama, izinombolo ze-ID, izinsuku zokuzalwa, ubulili, amakheli kanye nezinombolo zocingo. Ingase futhi ibandakanye imininingwane mayelana nezempilo nokwelashwa kwezokwelapha, kuhlanganise nezinsuku zokuqala kokwelashwa (lapho kufanelekile). Eminye yale mininingwane ingavumela ukufinyelelwa kwezinqumo mayelana nezimo zakho zezempilo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, uma wawukhwethwe isiguli njengomngane wakhe okweseka, ezinye zolwazi lwakho nazo zingase zithinteke. Lolu lwazi  lufaka igama lakho, inombolo yakho yocingo, ubudlelwano bakho nesiguli, nekheli lakho. Okungase kwenzeke ngenxa yalokhu Ungase uthole izingcingo ongazifuni, imiyalezo noma ama-email avela kubantu abazenza sengathi basebhange, ehhovisi likahulumeni noma kwenye inhlangano. Bangase bazame ukukukhohlisa ukuze ubanikeze imali noma olunye ulwazi ngawe. Omunye umuntu angazama ukusebenzisa inombolo yakho ye-ID ukuvula ama-account noma ukuthola iskweletu egameni lakho ngaphandle kwemvume yakho. Lokhu kubizwa ngokuthi ukweba ubunikazi. Ulwazi lwakho lwezempilo lungabelwana ngalo nabanye abantu. I-Anova iyakuqonda ukuthi lokhu kungabangela ukukhathazeka. Yini eyenziwe yi-Anova I-Anova isuse uhlelo oluthintekile ku-inthanethi futhi izolugcina lungekho ku-inthanethi ngenkathi silwenza lube nokuphepha okwengeziwe. Ochwepheshe abavela ngaphandle basisiza ocwaningweni nasekubuyiselweni kwesimo. Kubalulekile ukuqaphela ukuthi izinhlelo eziyinhloko zokusebenza ze-Anova azizange zithinteke — zisekhona ziphephile futhi zisebenza. Izinhlelo nezinsizakalo zezempilo ze-Anova ziyaqhubeka njengokujwayelekile. Ungazenzela ini ukuze uzivikele Qaphela noma ubani othintana nawe mayelana nolwazi lwakho lwangasese noma lwezempilo. Uma umuntu ethintana nawe ngocingo, nge-SMS, i-WhatsApp, i-imeyili noma ubuso nobuso athi uyakwazi ngesimo sakho sezempilo noma ecela imali — ungaphenduli. Mbike emaphoyiseni. Gcina i-ID yakho neminye imibhalo ebalulekile iphephile. Uma ukhathazekile ukuthi othile angase asebenzise kabi inombolo yakho ye-ID, ungabhalisela ne-South African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS). Lokhu kuyazisa amabhange nabahlinzeki bezikweletu ukuthi bahlolisise ubunikazi bakho ngokucophelela ngaphambi kokukunika isikweletu egameni lakho. Konke lokhu kumahhala. Bhalisa ku-www.safps.org.za noma ushayele u-011 867 2234.