Ramaphosa to Hammanskraal residents: 'We have failed you'

Ramaphosa on Thursday visited the area north of Pretoria, which is the epicentre of the current cholera outbreak. 

"It is not good quality water and this has been your problem for years. Our people have the right to clean running water and in this case, we will admit that we have failed you."

He was briefed at the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Works on the problems at the plants and plans to resume upgrades.

It's suspected the facility may have contributed to the outbreak.

The death toll of the bacterial disease went up to 31 on Thursday, most of them in Hammanskraal. Scores more have been hospitalised. 

Ramaphosa says there should be cooperation at all levels of government to fix the plant to avoid more tragedy.

READ: More funds needed for cholera-hit Hammanskraal water plant

"The municipality did try within its own capability to find people who will go and repair and extend the waterworks. They issued big tenders and the work was half done - up to 68% and the tender had to be cancelled because there were irregularities in the awarding of the tender." 

Last week, the City of Tshwane allocated R450 million spread over three years towards the plant's refurbishment. 

The National Water and Sanitation Ministry says an estimated R4 billion is needed to complete the work.