Op-Eds
I am Dr. Catherine O. Egbe, a Research Psychologist and Public Health Scientist. My areas of specialization are tobacco control, mental health, alcohol, and substance use research. I currently serve as a Senior Specialist Scientist at the Mental Health, Alcohol, Substance Use & Tobacco Research Unit of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC).
Over the years, I have written and co-written several articles, op-eds, magazine features, press releases, and journal contributions. These writings reflect my dedication to advancing public health, protecting vulnerable populations, and holding the tobacco industry accountable. Below, I have arranged my publications according to the platforms where they appeared, in chronological order where possible.
Mail & Guardian (Thought Leader)
The lies behind the e-cigarette industry’s claims about reducing smoking
By Catherine O. Egbe (7 April 2025)
https://mg.co.za/thought-leader/2025-04-07-the-lies-behind-the-e-cigarette-industrys-claims-about-reducing-smoking/
In this article, I broke down the misleading narrative pushed by the e-cigarette industry that vaping is a reliable tool for smoking cessation. I highlighted how such claims often distort the evidence and undermine real tobacco control efforts.
SAMRC Bophelo Life Magazine (The Community Issue)
Men and the cost of tobacco smoking: South Africa’s preventable health crisis
By Catherine O. Egbe, S. Gwambe & A. Khan (2025). Pages 14–15.
This piece focused on how men in South Africa bear a significant burden from tobacco use, both financially and health-wise. We drew attention to how preventable this crisis is if stronger tobacco control measures are implemented.
Dangers made ‘popular’: A tale of tobacco and vaping
By Catherine O. Egbe (March 2024). Pages 12–13.
Here, I narrated how the tobacco and vaping industries use marketing to glamorize harmful behaviors. I drew parallels between the historic promotion of cigarettes and the modern promotion of e-cigarettes.
The Conversation
From e-cigarettes to hookah pipes, South Africa aims to tighten tobacco laws
By Catherine O. Egbe (12 October 2022)
https://theconversation.com/from-e-cigarettes-to-hookah-pipes-south-africa-aims-to-tighten-tobacco-laws-192198
I examined South Africa’s push to reform its tobacco laws to include newer products like hookah pipes and e-cigarettes, explaining why such steps are vital for public health.
Nigeria isn’t doing enough to reduce tobacco use. Here’s why
By Catherine O. Egbe, Stanton Glantz & Stella Bialous (8 January 2019)
https://theconversation.com/nigeria-isnt-doing-enough-to-reduce-tobacco-use-heres-why-108695
In this article, I co-authored an analysis of Nigeria’s weak tobacco control measures, showing the gaps compared to global standards and urging stronger interventions.
How South Africa is tightening its tobacco rules
By Catherine O. Egbe (31 May 2018)
https://theconversation.com/how-south-africa-is-tightening-its-tobacco-rules-97382
I outlined South Africa’s progress in strengthening tobacco policies, including bans on advertising, public smoking restrictions, and other measures.
Daily Maverick
Children must be protected from the glamourised promotion of e-cigarettes
By Sharon Nyatsanza & Catherine O. Egbe (1 December 2020)
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-12-01-children-must-be-protected-from-the-glamourised-promotion-of-e-cigarettes/
We emphasized the urgent need to shield children from the manipulative marketing of e-cigarettes.
Women and tobacco: Young girls and women of all ages should be concerned
By Sharon Nyatsanza, Catherine O. Egbe, Pamela Naidoo & Phindile Ngobese (11 September 2020)
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-09-11-women-and-tobacco-young-girls-and-women-of-all-ages-should-be-concerned/
This piece explored the specific risks of tobacco for women and called for gender-focused tobacco control strategies.
Covid-19 Smoking Ban: The good, the bad and the very ugly
By Savera Kalideen, Sharon Nyatsanza, Pamela Naidoo, Lorraine Govender & Catherine O. Egbe (9 April 2020)
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-04-09-covid-19-smoking-ban-the-good-the-bad-and-the-very-ugly/
We analyzed South Africa’s temporary COVID-19 tobacco ban, discussing both its positive and negative outcomes.
It’s time to end TB, and curbing tobacco use is one of the major first steps
By Pamela Naidoo, Catherine O. Egbe, Savera Kalideen, Lorraine Govender & Sharon Nyatsanza (31 March 2020)
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-03-31-its-time-to-end-tb-and-curbing-tobacco-use-is-one-of-the-major-first-steps/
We showed the strong link between tobacco use and TB, stressing why curbing smoking is necessary for TB elimination.
Big Tobacco uses dirty tricks to contest draft bill
By Catherine O. Egbe & Savera Kalideen (21 October 2019)
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-10-21-big-tobacco-uses-dirty-tricks-to-contest-draft-bill/
I exposed how the tobacco industry tried to manipulate and discredit South Africa’s draft tobacco bill.
A fit of the vapers – the case against e-cigarettes
By Savera Kalideen, Leslie London, Catherine O. Egbe, Pascal Delobelle & Imraan Datay (28 May 2019)
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-05-28-a-fit-of-the-vapers-the-case-against-e-cigarettes/
This was a collective case we made against e-cigarettes, arguing for stronger regulation based on the risks they pose.
Medicus Mundi Switzerland (MMS Bulletin)
Fighting Tobacco in Sub-Saharan Africa: In the Clutches of the Tobacco Industry
By Catherine O. Egbe, S. Gwambe & S. P. Ngobese (2021). MMS Bulletin No. 160.
https://www.medicusmundi.ch/en/advocacy/publications/mms-bulletin/fighting-tobacco-in-lmic/advocacy/fighting-tobacco-in-sub-saharan-africa
We looked at how the tobacco industry targets Sub-Saharan Africa, exposing its interference in policymaking and the urgent need for strong advocacy.
Press Releases and Other Outlets
COVID-19 makes giving up tobacco even more urgent
Press Release (25 January 2021)
https://www.againstsmoking.co.za/single-post/covid-19-makes-giving-up-tobacco-even-more-urgent
Tobacco Control Advocates focus on long term measures as cigarette ban lifted
By Savera Kalideen, Sharon Nyatsanza, Pamela Naidoo, Lorraine Govender & Catherine O. Egbe (27 April 2020)
http://www.pressa.africa/protectournext/tobacco-control-advocates-focus-on-long-term-tobacco-control-measures-as-temporary-cigarette-ban-lifted
Finance Minister Tito Mboweni should announce a tax on e-cigarettes in Budget Speech
By Savera Kalideen, Pamela Naidoo, Catherine O. Egbe & Lorraine Govender (25 February 2020)
https://www.iol.co.za/news/opinion/finance-minister-tito-mboweni-should-announce-a-tax-on-e-cigarettes-in-budget-speech-43450385
Claims and evidence: How safe is vaping?
By Leslie London, Pascal Delobelle, Catherine O. Egbe & Savera Kalideen (8 November 2019)
http://www.publichealth.uct.ac.za/news/claims-and-evidence-how-safe-vaping
Cape Times
Up in a blast of smoke: Nicotine addiction and tobacco epidemic is destroying our society
By Catherine O. Egbe (22 May 2018). Cape Times, page 4.
This opinion article focused on how nicotine addiction continues to destroy lives and societies, and why urgent steps are needed to tackle the epidemic.