The cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria, has claimed 15 lives and 34 others have been admitted to the Jubilee District Hospital, where a command centre has been activated. The Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment [Works], the frequent change of mayors in the City of Tshwane and 'defaults' on agreements are at the epicentre of the Hammanskraal water issues. Investigations continue to track where the cholera outbreak originated. The government has also established a command centre — a collaboration between the departments of Water and Sanitation, Health, Social Development, the City of Tshwane and others — to coordinate efforts. Daily Maverick interviewed some victims of the outbreak and community members.
Samuel Sello Lekoto and Abraham Mpetsheni, both residents of Kanana in Hammanskraal, were admitted to the Jubilee District Hospital after being diagnosed with cholera last Wednesday. They experienced severe stomach aches, vomiting and dehydration after they drank water transported to Hammanskraal in tankers by the City of Ts The most important details in this text are the frustrations of residents in Hammanskraal, South Africa, who are unable to drink tap water due to contamination. Businessman Stevens Moyambo, a resident of Hammanskraal, said that the City of Tshwane and the coalition government have failed them. Grace Ngobeni, a resident of Hammanskraal, said that they are scared for their children and the elderly in the community, as their systems might not be able to endure the cholera symptoms. Tshwane Mayor Cilliers Brink was turned away from Jubilee District Hospital by some Hammanskraal residents, who are scared for their children and the elderly as their systems might not be able to endure the cholera symptoms.
The City of Tshwane sends 52 water tankers to provide drinkable water to informal settlements in Hammanskraal three times a week, and 40 water trucks to formal areas daily. However, residents say this is not enough for their needs, and they have to buy water for consumption from stores at R1 per litre. Cholera cases have been reported in other parts of South Africa, and Gift of the Givers delivered 22,220 litres of water to Jubilee District Hospital in Hammanskraal after receiving a call from the Moretele Local Municipality mayor, Masango George Manyike, asking for assistance. The deputy minister of health, Sibongiseni Dhlomo, said several cases of cholera had been reported in Limpopo and Free State, bringing the total number of cases in SA to 41.
