Cholera outbreak: Death toll at 16, SAHRC calls for urgent action

In a recent surge of disquieting developments, Hammanskraal has been hit hard by an unexpected cholera outbreak.

According to the latest information, the diarrhoeal disease has already claimed the lives of 16 citizens.

Cholera outbreak update

This past week, Hammanskraal’s health centres have seen a staggering 95 people coming in with symptoms indicative of this feared diarrhoeal disease.

An additional 19 patients who had reported to the Jubilee District Hospital with nausea, stomach cramps, and diarrhoea tested positive for cholera.

The SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) called for urgent actions to curb the spread of the disease and protect the affected communities.

Urgent action needed – SAHRC

The commission’s Gauteng Provincial Office today launched a monitoring visit to Hammanskraal, and the Jubilee Hospital.

During this visit, the SAHRC team liaised with City of Tshwane officials and key stakeholders to assess the temporary solutions in place to manage the outbreak.

It said preventative measures – such as warnings against drinking tap water, provision of water tankers, public hygiene awareness campaigns, and additional patient accommodations at Jubilee Hospital – are already making a difference.

Moreover, the commission said it will continue to work closely with City of Tshwane and the Department of Health to identify the source of the outbreak.

Water crisis a painful echo

In addition, the commission said the current crisis is a painful echo of past water-related problems that have plagued Hammanskraal.

The Hammanskraal community had approached the commission back in 2018, reporting dirty and foul-smelling tap water.

This complaint prompted an official investigation, followed by a report citing mismanagement and prolonged neglect of waste water works in the region as the primary reason for the alarming pollution levels.

Time for action

Despite these findings, the people of Hammanskraal still find themselves deprived of clean drinking water, which ultimately resulted in the latest cholera outbreak.

The commission is thus urging all governmental bodies to band together, pool their resources, and not only locate the source of the outbreak but devise effective, lasting solutions.

The SAHRC said it is of utmost importance to meet the long-standing need for clean, drinkable water in Hammanskraal, thereby allowing the residents to maintain good hygiene consistently.