FS death sees cholera toll rise to 32

The Free State Health Department says a second person, who was admitted to the hospital for treatment for a water-borne disease, has passed away. 

 

Laboratory tests confirmed that the 42-year-old Parys woman had contracted cholera. 

 

Since the start of the outbreak at least 29 people have lost their lives in Gauteng, the Free State recorded two deaths and Mpumalanga one.

 

Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa's acknowledged during his visit to Hammarskraal, north of Tshwane that the government has failed the community, which is at the centre of the crisis.

 

He said Tshwane Municipality was meant to expand the local waterworks treatment plant to accommodate the region's growing population.

 

"We are now going to change that around because we are saying yes there must be revamping, the expansion, and maintenance. That has to be done, or else there is going to be trouble if we don't do that."

 READ: Ramaphosa to Hammanskraal residents: 'We have failed you'

The SA Human Rights Commission in 2019 declared the water in Hammanskraal unsuitable for human consumption after years of resident complaints.

 

Ramaphosa stressed the importance of maintenance amid the power crisis. 

 

"We were not maintaining the power stations for the longest time. When you don't maintain your machine it will definitely break down one of these days and we see it now in electricity. We now also see it now in a vital area which is water and this must come to an end, we must start maintaining our infrastructure."