President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Union buildings in Pretoria on 16 March 2023. Photo: AFP/Phill Magakoe
As the cholera death toll continues to climb, President Cyril Ramaphosa has finally committed to visiting Hammanskraal.
On Saturday, the health department’s communications manager, Foster Mohale, verified another two fatalities, escalating the critical situation to 24 deaths.
Meanwhile, the Gauteng health department said 75 patients were admitted to hospital for diarrhoeal disease, with 15 of them confirmed cholera cases as of Friday.
While holding discussions with ANC party members in the North West, Ramaphosa, expressed his deep concern about the cholera outbreak.
He said the health and well-being of South Africans are his priority, adding that a team of ministers dedicated to tackling the problem will find solutions.
“I have ministers whose job it is to deal with the problem and they are coming up with solutions,” Ramaphosa said.
Ramaphosa said Senzo Mchunu, the minister of water and sanitation, is dealing with the matter, saying he is “satisfied with the attention they are giving”
Ramaphosa added: “But I will also go and visit the area because we have to make sure that there’s overall attention that should be given”.
He wanted to assure citizens that “all of the government is paying attention to the cholera outbreak.”
In addition to the efforts of his ministers, Ramaphosa stressed the importance of the local municipality’s role.
“We are also working with the municipality. The metro has to pay attention to what needs to be done.