However, the same forces that make cities engines of growth also create silent risks for health. Sedentary lifestyles, fast food on the go, long commutes and relentless stress are reshaping the nation’s health profile. Cardiovascular disease, once seen as a disease of affluence or old age, is now rising sharply among younger South Africans. The rise of heart disease among young adults in their 20s and 30s is especially concerning. At Bara Taxi Rank in Soweto, the South African Heart Association recently demonstrated how AI-enabled tools can bring heart health screening directly to communities that rarely access specialist care.