Cholera outbreak: Gift of the Givers to continue aiding Hammanskraal
Humanitarian group Gift of the Givers will on Tuesday continue its water distribution drive amid the deadly cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria.
Fifteen people, including a three-year-old child, have died after being infected with the highly infectious bacterial disease.
There are 41 known cases in the country, with six reported in the Free State, one in Limpopo and 34 cases in Gauteng.
In 2019 the South African Human Right Commission released a report declaring the water in the region unfit for human consumption after an independent sample analysis by the Council for Industrial and Scientific Research.
Gift of the Givers community liaison officer Cliffort Mabe said they delivered nearly 1 500 litres of water at the Jubilee Hospital after receiving a call for assistance from the Moretele Local Municipality.
“On Monday we were dispatched to Jubilee District Hospital, and we distributed about 1 440 litres to the hospital. Today we are going to the clinics.”
Mabe says they plan to reach the Majaneng, Temba, Bosplaas and Carousel View clinics.
“We are loading about 12 pallets of 5 litres, so it’s about 1 800 bottles of 5 litres, and we are going to just split that to the clinics.
The group will also be distributing hygiene packs that will include sanitisers and surface cleaners, as health officials emphasise good hygiene practices as a pivotal part of curbing the spread of the disease.
The City of Tshwane has ramped up water distribution of water through water tankers, however, locals have expressed concern over the safety of the tanker water.
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A resident, who asked not to be named, said it is common knowledge among residents not to drink the tap water and most were reliant on store-bought water or water from the city's tankers.
"The water situation in Hammanskraal is not good at the moment, we have a crisis in Hammanskraal. The water is too bad. Usually, I buy water for drinking and the tap water I use for washing. But not every family can afford to buy water."
He adds since the outbreak they have begun to suspect that the water from the tankers may be the source of the disease.
"We were told that that water from the tankers we can drink. So, now on social media, they say it's the one that came with the cholera. Those water tankers are not clean, they say these drivers collect water from the river and they supply it to the people."
During a press briefing on Monday, Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation David Mahlobo said teams from the command centre tasked with addressing the outbreak would also be looking into the safety and cleanliness of water tankers.
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