By: Natasha Archary

The death toll from the cholera outbreak in South Africa has climbed to 32, after a second person from the Free State has since died from the illness.
The Provincial Department of Health in the Free State confirmed a 42-year old woman from Parys as the second casualty on Thursday, 08 June.
“The Department would like to take this opportunity to urge the public to believe information about causes of death that are confirmed by laboratory tests and not opinions that are not scientifically supported by facts.
With regards to positive cases, the country has recorded a total cumulative number of 166 laboratory-confirmed cases and 202 suspected cases of cholera in five provinces between 1 February and 06 June 2023.
Majority of cases were recorded in Gauteng which accounts for at least 92% or 152 cases, while Free State Province accounts for 5% which translates into 9 cases. Other provinces which recorded positive cases include Limpopo (1), Mpumalanga (1) and North West (3).”
Department of Health
In May another woman died from the acute diarrheal illness, which has also claimed the lives of 29 people in Hammanskraal, and one person has died from the illness in Mpumalanga.
On Thursday, President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the epicenter of the cholera outbreak, outlining the plan to refurbish the contaminate Rooiwal water plant in Hammanskraal.
It will cost R4 billion to get clean water to residents in Hammanskraal by March 2024, as a refurbishment of the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Works is required.
This according to the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu who says the project will take 3-years to complete if all goes as planned.
The Department warned members of the public to remain vigilant and avoid known or suspected contaminated food, water and surfaces, and wash hands thoroughly with soap before handling and preparing food or after using the bathroom to prevent possible infection.
Never drink water from unsafe sources such as rivers, dams, streams, unless boiled or disinfected first.
Also read: Joburg Water says system in gradual recovery after outage



