By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo has confirmed the death toll from cholera outbreak had increased to 15, with three more fatalities confirmed since the earlier update at 07:30.
Mahlobo held a media briefing with authorities following recorded fatalities at Jubilee Hospital in Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria.
The purpose of the visit was to assess the situation in Hammanskraal and at the Hospital in order to inform government’s response to a cholera outbreak in the area.
About 37 people had been admitted to hospital on Sunday, with a total of 95 people treated for diarrhoeal disease.
Mahlobo said a team of experts had been established that it will investigate the causes behind water problems in Hammanskraal.
“That team will be in a position to do a follow-up with water problems in this area. While the investigation is continuing, there will be an immediate task of provision of water for the communities affected,” he said.
The minister said the Tshwane metro assured the delegation there were sufficient water trucks to distribute water to affected communities.
“We have also agreed that we will run some tests with a reputable institution. We will deal with issues of engagements with our communities.”
Mahlobo said the department had created a command centre to bring in different spheres and expertise.
Tempers flared outside the hospital in Hammanskraal as angry residents chased Tshwane Mayor Cilliers Brink away.
Brink was expected to join Deputy Health Minister Sibongiseni Dhlomo, Mahlobo and Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko for a site visit in Hammanskraal.
The city has been unable to give deadlines for the completion of the multi-billion rand upgrades on Rooiwal waste water treatment plant which has been marred by delays.
A woman who was part of the group that kicked and banged on the Mayor’s car says while the water issues go many years back, the situation has worsened in recent months, and she blames Brink and the DA administration
“He’s on top of Tshwane but he doesn’t deliver for us. Because of this disease he comes here like he cares? He doesn’t care for us.”
Another resident says budget cuts and unequal distribution of services by the City have contributed to the health crisis
“They cut the water budget from 2016, they cut even the trucks. They don’t have more trucks to deliver water around the location. What is he going to tell us now?”
Community members in Hammanskraal said the cholera outbreak has been a disaster in the making for many years.
In 2019, the South African Human Rights Commission declared the water in Hammanskraal unsafe for human consumption leaving residents dependent on water tankers or having to buy their own drinking water.
Dhlomo said there were 41 positive cases of Cholera countrywide.
“We had one case in Limpopo, six cases in Parys, Free State, and 34 cases where we are. There are 15 confirmed deaths. We hope for people to survive because of interventions,” he said.
He said the plan announced by Mahlobo was beneficial for the department.
“We will leave the challenge of water to the experts. I am delighted that we are not here alone, but we have this support of creating a base on how to intervene. An alert has been issued to all provinces to treat any diarrhoea as if it’s Cholera. Cholera is different. It is a rapid dehydration,” he said.