Cholera deaths rise to 24; first Free State fatality and EC tap water not safe

On Saturday afternoon, the Department of Health confirmed the latest official death toll of people who have succumbed to cholera to be 24.

The national department’s communications manager Foster Mohale said the latest two fatalities are from Gauteng.

There has been an alarming and steady rise in cholera-related deaths and hospitalisations since the outbreak of the waterborne disease in Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria, about a month ago.

ALSO READ: Joburg Water confirms water safe for drinking amid cholera outbreak

Epicentre of Gauteng cholera outbreak

Over the years, the plight of the Hammanskraal community concerning poor water quality has been well documented.

The dilapidated state of the Rooiwal wastewater treatment plant has been cited as the most probable reason for the health crisis reared its ugly head on 15 May in the area.

However, only after the health crisis was officially declared an outbreak last weekend, did controversial tender tycoon Edwin Sodi’s R295 million tender to refurbish and upgrade the treatment plant resurface.

According to a forensic report by ActionSA, the Blackhead Consulting director jumped ship not long after the tender was in 2019 awarded in an “illegal and irregular” manner by “five City of Tshwane officials”.

ALSO READ: Hammanskraal cholera: Edwin Sodi’s R295m Rooiwal tender… where did the money go?

Vaal River shock: Deadly disease now in Free State

On Friday, fears that the gastro-intestinal disease could spread to other provinces became a frightening reality when laboratory tests confirmed the presence of cholera in the Vaal River at Parys in the Free State.

Free State Health Department spokesperson Mondli Mvambi confirmed two cases that tested positive for cholera from Parys and a further six from nearby Vredefort.

“Unfortunately, a 33-year-old female from Vredefort was admitted to Parys Hospital and passed away there. 

“These three new cases bring the total number of positive cholera cases to eight if you add the original six cases that we had in Vredefort and discount the person that passed on,” Mvambi explained.

Latest cholera deaths from Gauteng

According to the Gauteng Health Department spokesperson Motalatale Modiba, as of Friday, 75 patients were admitted to hospital for diarrhoeal disease, with 15 of them confirmed cholera cases.

The Citizen reported earlier on Saturday morning that representatives of the United Nations (UN) in the country are readying resources and personnel to offer assistance.

The health department has since set up a makeshift clinic near Hammanskraal to screen patients with cholera symptoms, which include diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and dehydration.

ALSO READ: WATCH: Alarming evidence Vaal River contaminated with cholera

Eastern Cape: Makana municipality water unsafe to drink

Water test results have revealed that water in the Makana Municipality’ in the Eastern Cape, particularly in the areas around Makhanda’s Settlers Hospital, Extension 7 Clinic and indoor sports centres, is unsafe to drink.

Makana Municipality spokesperson Anele Mjekula confirmed the positive E.coli test results on Friday.

“Makana municipality has received water testing results from the resampling that was done on 23 May 2023 that indicated there were failures in water quality, in that presence of E.coli was detected. The municipality is currently dealing with this matter.” 

The municipality, however, stressed that the water source did not have failures.

“The failure was found in the sample of Settlers Hospital, Extension 7 Clinic and indoor sports centres.” 

He said in dealing with the matter, the Makana Municipality will continuously do regular water tests, and take appropriate actions to ensure that microbiological water quality results meet the drinking water quality standards as prescribed on SANS 0241.

“A subsequent communication will be issued as soon as this is completely resolved,” Mjekula said.

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