By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
As the cholera death toll continues to climb, President Cyril Ramaphosa made an announcement on Saturday that he will be visiting Hammanskraal to address the cholera outbreak.
Hammanskraal has been at the centre of a recent cholera outbreak which has killed 24 people.
Gauteng health department said 75 patients were admitted to hospital for diarrhoeal disease, with 15 of them confirmed cholera cases as of Friday.
Addressing the media in North West, where Ramaphosa, in his capacity as ANC president, was meeting with party members, he said the cholera outbreak is a cause of concern to him.
“I have ministers whose job it is to deal with the problem and they are coming up with solutions,” Ramaphosa said.
“The minister of water and sanitation, Senzo Mchunu is dealing with the matter and the minister of health Joe Phaahla was also there.
“I am satisfied with the attention they are giving, but I will also go and visit the area because we have to make sure that there’s overall attention that should be given.
“We are also working with the municipality – the metro has to pay attention to what needs to be done.
“All of the government is paying attention to the cholera outbreak.”
The government has set up a “command centre” to try to combat the outbreak, with the City of Tshwane cooperating with the Departments of Health, Water and Sanitation, Social Development and others.
Health authorities are yet to confirm the exact source of the cholera outbreak, but poor waste water management and local government instability in South Africa’s capital city have been blamed for the situation.
The City of Tshwane Municipality, which takes in Pretoria and surrounding areas, has had at least five different mayors since the ruling African National Congress party lost control in local government elections in 2016.
Cholera can cause acute diarrhoea, vomiting and weakness and is mainly spread by contaminated food or water. It can kill within hours if untreated.
South Africa recorded its first two cholera cases in February on the back of outbreaks in nearby Mozambique and Malawi, the two most severely affected countries in 2023, according to the United Nations.
Cholera is a water-borne disease caused by ingesting contaminated food or water. The infection is extremely virulent, although it can be easily treated once identified.