Last updated: 2 February 2026

For 44-year-old mother of 3, Zola Ntuli, access to health care is a distant dream. 

Living in a small KwaZulu-Natal community in South Africa, Zola’s nearest clinic is 20 kilometres away, and the closest hospital is 100 kilometres from home. A simple check-up means 2 taxis, an entire day away from her family, and costs she can barely afford. 

This is the reality many women in rural South Africa live every day. Clinics are far away, and hospitals even further. Preventive care, such as routine screenings for diseases like breast cancer, is often inaccessible, leaving many women vulnerable to late diagnoses and poor health outcomes.  

That changed for Zola on 3 July 2024, when she attended a community mobile clinic that brought cancer education and screening directly to her community.

 “This is something that we really need, but we are never afforded the opportunity. It’s not that we don’t want to do it, but where do you go? This pre-investigation is what everybody in the community and the whole country needs. We thank you for that.”

– Zola Ntuli 

For Zola, this wasn’t just a health check, it was a moment of dignity and empowerment. For the first time, she felt her health mattered not only when she was sick, but as part of her everyday wellbeing. 

Aerial shot of PinkDrive mobile clinic in Zwide.
PinkDrive mobile clinic in Zwide in August this year.
With just 15.8% of South Africans covered by private health care – and some people travelling up to 800 kilometres to access care – PinkDrive’s mobile units are a lifeline. Equipped with advanced technology and expert staff, they offer free screenings, referrals and health education, as well as training for local health care workers. 

These fully equipped and staffed mobile clinics provide free community health screenings, including mammograms, pap smears, clinical breast examinations, PSA testing for prostate cancer, lung screenings, skin cancer screenings, and primary health care services related to glucose, cholesterol and blood pressure.
Noelene Kotschan, CEO and Founder of PinkDrive NPC posing for the camera in front of a community stall setting with pink tents and a truck.
Noelene Kotschan, CEO and Founder of PinkDrive NPC

“PinkDrive was founded on the premise that 'Early Detection Can Prolong Lives',” CEO and Founder of PinkDrive Noelene Kotschan said.   

“In provinces such as KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, rural and peri-urban residents struggle to access health care. 

“Partnering with Rio Tinto – an organisation that prioritises the investment of resources into communities in need – enables us to reach these communities.”  

Zola’s story is just one example of how strategic, long-term social investment can transform lives.  

By making health care accessible, we’re working with PinkDrive to detect disease early, giving people hope, dignity and the chance to live healthier, longer lives. 

PinkDrive by the numbers 

With Rio Tinto’s support, PinkDrive delivered the following services during community outreaches in 2024-2025: 

  • 1,468 clinical breast examinations 
  • 935 mammograms
  • 71 ultrasounds 
  • 21 breast biopsies 
  • 1,767 Pap smears and cervical cancer education 
  • 1,373 prostate-specific antigen tests for prostate cancer 
  • 2,267 lung screening 
  • 1,298 skin cancer screening

The program also provided: 

  • 5,361 people with primary health assessments and education 
  • 2,403 people with breast cancer education 
  • 1,373 people with testicular and prostate cancer education 

About PinkDrive 

PinkDrive is a South African non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting early detection of gender-related cancers through mobile health services. They bring critical cancer screening and education to communities that often lack access to adequate health care. 

We’ve been working with PinkDrive since 2024 to expand its reach and deliver critical health services to communities in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, who live and work near our Richards Bay Minerals operation.  

Through its fleet of mobile units, PinkDrive offers free mammograms, pap smears, clinical breast exams, prostate cancer testing, and other essential health screenings. These state-of-the-art units are staffed by trained medical professionals and operate in partnership with the South African Department of Health to ensure services meet national and provincial standards. 

PinkDrive also plays a vital role in health education, empowering individuals with knowledge about cancer prevention and the importance of regular screening. By reaching rural and regional areas, they help bridge the health care gap and improve outcomes for vulnerable South Africans. 

Related stories

Iceland operations at night. It is located around 30 kilometres from the Grindavik volcanic disaster.

Reuniting dispersed communities

Supporting communities in Iceland after a volcanic disaster
Two men at the Low Head Community Garden

Local Voices cultivating connection

A community garden funded by donations-for-feedback is bringing people together in Tasmania, Australia.
Aerial view of Khanbogd town in Mongolia during sunset

Khanbogd’s catalyst for growth

In Mongolia’s South Gobi, a small town is leading the transformation for its future.