“It was discovered during the discussions with North West health officials that two cases, were already reported under Gauteng because the two patients were screened, tested, and diagnosed with cholera while they were in Hammanskraal,” said the Health Department spokesperson, Foster Mohale.

The North West Department of Health has meanwhile urged the public to remain calm as cholera is preventable and curable.

“Both patients presented symptoms of cholera, which are vomiting and diarrhoea,” says Tebogo Lekgethwane, Health Department spokesperson. The department requested people who experience cholera symptoms, with or without local or international travel history, to visit a health facility for testing.

It urged the public to take extra precautions and maintain proper hand hygiene amid an outbreak of diarrhoeal disease or gastrointestinal infection, and the rising number of laboratory-confirmed cholera cases.

In Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria, at least 24 people have died in the latest outbreak. The Free State had recorded one death.

ALSO READ: Northern Cape municipality reassures residents its water is safe to drink

OFM News previously reported the Department of Water and Sanitation urged the public to avoid water from rivers, dams, and streams. Water-shedding forced residents of Tumahole in Parys to use untreated water from streams.

Earlier, the Metsimaholo Municipality in the Free State was in the spotlight after photos and videos showed what appeared like contaminated water coming from the taps of residents in Deneysville. Residents from the Theunissen-based Masilonyana Municipality were also forced to fetch water from small water streams and pipes.

ALSO READ: Free State residents 'forced to fetch water from manholes'

The mayor of the Parys-based Ngwathe Municipality, Victoria de Beer-Mthombeni, says the municipality was unable to distribute water via water tankers due to “restrictions placed by residents”, making “it even more challenging for us to ensure that everyone has access to clean and safe water.

De Beer-Mthombeni says criminal damage to infrastructure was among the challenges. “This has affected the progress of our project as we now have to replace the damaged materials, which has caused delays.”

She assured residents they had taken “proactive steps to improve the situation. We are upgrading our water filters and building a new pipeline to ensure that our reservoirs are filled and able to meet the needs of our community."

OFM News