Bloemfontein – The Free State Department of Health on Thursday announced that a Second person has died of Cholera.
The 42-year-old female patient was from Parys in the Free State. She had been admitted to Boitumelo Hospital in Kroonstad.
The Free State health department said laboratory tests confirmed that the woman’s death was attributable to Cholera.
The Free State MEC for Health Mathabo Leeto implored residents of the province to wash their hands with soap after using the bathroom and to boil their water before they consume it.
“If anyone experiences any slight symptoms of Diarrhoea they must please go to our health facilities to get help as a matter of urgency,” the department advised.
The latest death from cholera in the Free State brings the total fatalities from the disease to 32.
At least 29 deaths were reported in Gauteng and another one in Mpumalanga.
So far, 166 positive laboratory-confirmed cases have been reported.
Health Department’s spokesperson, Foster Mohale said there were 202 suspected cases of cholera in five provinces between February 1 and June 6.
Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday visited Hammanskraal, the epicentre of the cholera outbreak.
President Ramaphosa toured the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment plant and also engaged with the community of Hammanskraal at Temba Stadium.
“The Short-term intervention that the government is currently implementing is that between August this year and March 2024, an improved wastewater technology solution will be installed at the Rooiwal plant that will treat the sewerage better and increase the quality of discharged effluent into Apies River,” said President Ramaphosa.
He said this will reduce the levels of E-coli from the treated sewage water that is released into the Apies River.
The President said the government will also improve drinking water provision to the residents of Hammanskraal, Magalies Water will install a portable water treatment plant (called a ‘package plant’) at its Klipdrift Water Treatment Works near Hammanskraal.
He also apologised for government tardiness regarding the supply of clean water to residents of Hammanskraal and surrounding areas.
“We are sorry that it has taken the deaths of a number of people, even though we have not yet confirmed that the cholera deaths are as a result of the water supplied to residents,” said President Ramaphosa.
“Your basic human right of having clean water, we have not lived up to your expectations as the people of Hammanskraal.”
