As mentioned above, about 16% of the South African population is able to afford health insurance (Mahlathi & Dlamini, 2015), for which most part is concentrated in more urban areas (Competition Commission SA, 2018; StatsSA, 2016).

References:

Competition Commission SA. (2018). Health market injuiry. Available from:  http://www.compcom.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Executive-Summary.pdf

Mahlathi, P., & Dlamini, J. (2015). MINIMUM DATA SETS FOR HUMAN RESOURCES FOR HEALTH AND THE SURGICAL WORKFORCE IN SOUTH AFRICA’S HEALTH SYSTEM: A rapid analysis of stock and migration. Available from: http://www.prographic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/0316-south-africa-case-studies-web.pdf

StatsSA. (2016). General Household Survey. Available from:  https://www.statssa.gov.za/publications/P0318/P03182015.pdf