By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Department of Health has confirmed one person died of cholera, while five cases have been recorded in the country.
In a statement, the department said a 24-year-old man from Benoni in Gauteng died earlier this week shortly after being hospitalised at Tambo Memorial Hospital.
The development comes on the heels of rising cases of cholera in Southern Africa, with Malawi battling its deadliest outbreak yet, with more than 1,300 deaths.
Cholera can cause acute diarrhoea, vomiting and weakness and is mainly spread by contaminated food or water. It can kill within hours if untreated.
The two new cases in South Africa are of men in their 20s who had no travel history, the department said, adding one of them has subsequently died.
“One of his contacts is still in hospital and further investigation is being conducted,” it said in a statement.
South Africa reported two imported cases of the disease from Malawi earlier this month. The husband of one of the first two cases also later tested positive.