Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko confirmed that there is a cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal and the death toll has risen to 10.
“We can confirm that there is a cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal after the result of the stool specimen of 19 people who presented at Jubilee Hospital with symptoms of diarrhea, stomach cramps and nausea were received . Since Monday (15 May 2023) to date 95 people have been seen at the hospital. 37 are currently admitted and 10 people have demised,” said Nkomo Ralehoko.
Gauteng Department of Health said areas affected by the outbreak are Kanana, Suurman, Majaneng, Green Field, Carousel View, Lephengville and Sekampaneng.
Kamogelo Stock said her grandmother, Sarah Tlhomelang died this morning at Jubilee after she was diagnosed with cholera.
“Cholera is out there and it’s real. I just lost my grandma because of cholera. She started falling sick on Thursday. She said she had stomach cramps and she had diarrhea. She was a diabetic so we thought she just had a lot of acid in the stomach and she would be fine.
“It got worse as time went by, the stomach cramps got very severe. On Friday she was worse, she was very weak and she couldn’t walk. I was helping her with bathing and going to the toilet. She couldnt even feed herself anymore. Everytime she ate something she would throw up,” said Stocks.
“I just gave birth so I couldn’t take her to the hospital. I asked my brother to take her to the o Jubilee hospital. They admitted her and my grandmother got worse when she was in hospital.I thought because we had water tankers the water was safe. I am shocked because we drink water from the water tankers. The test results confirm that she had cholera. This morning around 4 my grandmother was declared dead,” she added
Stock said the government has failed them because the water crisis in Hammanskraal has been going on for years.
“It is very painful because our government is failing us. We have been fighting for clean water. We have blockaded roads when we were fighting for water. I have lost my grandmother because the government doesn’t care about us,” said Stock.
City of Tshwane said it regularly conducts tests on water supplied to Hammanskraal and samples have been collected and results will be released on Wednesday.
“The city regularly conducts tests on the quality of water provided to our communities, and following this outbreak, comprehensive tests will be done on the entire water distribution network,” said the municipality in a statement.
“Water samples have been collected in the affected areas and taken for tests and results are expected on Wednesday to determine the cause of the outbreak. Some of the cases reported are from the Moretele area, which is not supplied by the City of Tshwane,” it continued.
