Province
12 March 2009
Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry Mrs Lindiwe Hendricks has visited the
cholera affected Limpopo Province where she commissioned a new packaged mobile
water treatment plant worth three million rand for the community of Bothashoek
village in the Tubatse Local Municipality, as part an intervention to fight the
cholera outbreak.
During the visit minister Hendricks led a delegation of provincial and local
politicians including Councillor Magabe representing the Mayor of the
Sekhukhune District Municipality, and the MEC for Health, Seaparo Sekoati on a
door to door health and hygiene education initiative where she handed out soap
and bleach to residents. Minister Hendricks was also briefed by the Chief
Executives of the hospitals in the area who confirmed that there are very few
new infections, down to about one per week, in the Sekhukhune District. They
also confirmed that these infections were as a result of poor hygiene practices
and not as a result of contaminated water.
Minister Hendricks told community members that cholera is water borne
disease that is spread through human contact. She also emphasised the positive
role that good hygiene plays in preventing the spread of the disease. At one of
the homes in the Ga-Motodi Village the delegation met two orphans of the
Maphanga family whose mother died due to cholera in December. The Minister
undertook to ensure the two girls aged 18 and 23 were assisted by social
development as they do not have a source of income or Identity Documents
(ID).
During a similar visit to Limpopo last month the Department of Water Affairs
and Forestry committed an additional 18 million rand to combat cholera, the
money will be used to purchase five package water treatment plants in the
province, the first of which was commissioned today.
The minister also reiterated that tap water in our country is safe to drink
adding that the challenge is with water polluted by industries, households
ageing municipal infrastructure and agriculture.
Cholera has claimed the lives of 59 people since the outbreak was first
reported in November 2008 with a total of 12,324 cases recorded in South
Africa. Limpopo has been worst affected reporting 5 293 cases and 24
deaths.
The department has been actively involved in efforts to contain the cholera
outbreak, providing among other things clean drinking water by carting water
with tankers to affected communities. Officials and technicians have also been
despatched to assist municipalities that are facing challenges with regard to
the operation and maintenance of their waste water treatment plants.
Enquiries:
Linda Page
Cell: 083 460 4482
Themba Khumalo
Cell: 083 802 3432
Issued by: Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
12 March 2009
Source: Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (http://www.dwaf.gov.za/)
