SEDIBENG.- The Gauteng Department of Health has distanced itself from what it calls malicious information that is circulating on social networks that people should not drink water from taps.

The Department’s Spokesperson, Motalatale Modiba said that the information shared by the unknown sources has no scientific evidence and is not an official communication of any government entity.  The Gauteng Department said that water in South Africa is generally safe to drink and cook with when taken from taps and that the country’s national water quality standard lives up to the World Health Organisation (WHO) set standards.

Modiba, however, said that they would like to encourage people to continue practicing safe hand hygiene, and not to drink water from any contaminated sources such as rivers, boreholes, streams, and dams.

“We are advising the public to be extra cautious. One of the main ways in which Cholera is transmitted is through contaminated water sources and when people handle food without proper hand hygiene.”

Modiba said that they have gone out on public awareness campaigns to educate the public on what they should do, and should not do in order to ensure that they curb the spread of Cholera in the province.