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Cholera - South African Party Lays Complaint About Bungled Tender

The cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal in the City of Tshwane metropole is proving a prime opportunity for political mudslinging, writes Zintle Mahlati for News24. A political party is saying that the deaths of 15 people could have been avoided if the municipality had quickly resolved the bungling of a R250 million tender, which was meant to maintain the Rooiwal wastewater treatment plant. ActionSA has lodged complaints about the outbreak with the Public Protector and the South African Human Rights Commission.

News24 says that the City of Tshwane awarded a tender in 2019 to treat the Rooiwal plant to a joint venture which included Blackhead Consulting - which is linked to businessman Edwin Sodi, who is embroiled in a court case over the Free State asbestos refurbishment scandal. ActionSA has blamed the City and former mayor Randall Williams for dragging their feet in resolving the handling of the project.

At least 52 water tankers have been dispatched across Hammanskraal, where residents have been advised to boil water before using it. Tshwane Health MEC Rina Marx says clean drinking water will be supplied to informal settlements for the next few weeks.

Meanwhile, the United Nations said a billion people in 43 countries are at risk of cholera and though the outbreaks could be stopped, the resources necessary to do so are lacking.

South Africa: Water Dept Intervenes in Hammanskraal Cholera Outbreak, Govt Says

SAnews.gov.za, 23 May 2023

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has assured the public that it is working on an integrated model to respond to the current cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal, north of… Read more »
South Africa: Gauteng Cholera Outbreak - What You Can Do to Ensure Your Water Is Safe

Daily Maverick, 23 May 2023

As health authorities scramble to combat the cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal that has claimed 15 lives and infected dozens more, it's vital that communities ensure their water is… Read more »
South Africa: Experts Want Every Diarrhoea Case to Be Treated As Suspected Cholera

SAnews.gov.za, 23 May 2023

Experts are advising healthcare workers to treat all diarrhoea cases as suspected Cholera until proven otherwise. Read more »
South Africa: Anger Boils Over At Cholera Outbreak

Scrolla, 23 May 2023

Tempers have reached boiling point in Hammanskraal, located north of Tshwane, as residents blame local government for the tragic deaths of 15 individuals due to a cholera outbreak… Read more »
South Africa: Cholera Death Toll in Hammanskraal Rises to 15 As Probe Yet to Find Source of Contaminated Water

Daily Maverick, 22 May 2023

The cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal has claimed 15 lives and 34 others have been admitted to the Jubilee District Hospital, where a command centre has been activated. Read more »
South Africa: Ekurhuleni Metro Warns Public of Rising Cholera Cases in Gauteng

SAnews.gov.za, 22 May 2023

The City of Ekurhuleni has urged residents to take extra precautionary measures and maintain proper hand-hygiene as the country experiences an outbreak of Diarrhoeal disease and a… Read more »
South Africa: Cholera in Hammanskraal - SA Government Must Pay and Be Accountable

Daily Maverick, 21 May 2023

The South African government and the City of Tshwane must face a class action for the cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal and surrounds, which is the result of a decade-long water… Read more »
Africa: One Billion People in 43 Countries Face Cholera Risk, Amid 'Bleak' Outlook

UN News, 19 May 2023

After years of steady decline, cholera is making a devastating comeback and targeting the world's most vulnerable communities, UN health experts warned on Friday. Read more »