The Free State Department of Health has confirmed that two people have died of cholera. Both victims resided in the Ngwathe Local Municipality, one from Verdefort and the second from neighbouring Parys.

Mondli Mvambi, spokesperson for the department yesterday said a 42-year-old woman was admitted at the Boitumelo Hospital in Kroonstad where she died.

On May 24, the province recorded its first cholera death when a 33-year-old woman from Vredefort passed away after being admitted at the Parys Hospital.

Up to date, 10 confirmed cholera cases (including the two patients that died) have been recorded in the Free State. Of the 10 cases, seven were recorded in Vredefort and three in Parys.

Cholera cases have thus far been reported in Gauteng, Free State, Mpumalanga and North West.

President Cyril Ramaphosa during a visit to Hammanskraal north of Pretoria, yesterday said the fact that several people had to die before the government had realised that the water crisis in Hammanskraal has been going on for years, must be resolved urgently.

In Gauteng 29 people, mostly from Hammanskraal, died of cholera.

Ramaphosa said he was shocked by the condition of the Rooiwal Water purification plant at Hammanskraal and added that it is time that the country starts looking after its infrastructure.

• The Free State Department of Health called on all people to continue washing their hands and boiling water before they consume it.
• Should you experience symptoms of diarrhoea, please go to the nearest health facility to get help as a matter of urgency, the department said.
• The public is also urged to only make use of reliable sources for verified information. Especially about causes of death that are confirmed by laboratory tests, and not opinions that are not scientifically supported by facts.