<p>Individuals prefer a higher health status, to be part of social relationships built on mutual trust, and to have a sense of belonging. However, developing countries like South Africa (SA) have poor health outcomes and rank low when it comes to social capital. There is limited developing countries’ studies, inconsistency in results, and most studies solely measure health subjectively. Using a survey ordered probit regression model, drawing on South Africa’s national household panel study, National Income Dynamics Study (NIDs), the study aims to examine the association between social capital and health in South Africa, particularly focusing on both subjective (self-reported health) and objective (Body Mass Index (BMI)) dimensions of health. Interpersonal and social trust are not associated with both forms of health whereas, social network has a positive association of 0.1% with objective health. Social capital associates differently depending on the measure of social capital and measure of health. The findings illuminate the importance of increasing social capital beyond bonding social networks and by increasing trust so that social capital may play an important for SA’s health policy since SA is one of those countries with poor health infrastructure. Social capital may also play a vital role in improving health equity. There are many ways to improve the country’s health status, some of which lie within the communities. SA’s policymakers ought to be cognisant of the low level of social capital so that its positive influence on health can be realised.</p>