This is according to Dr Patricks Voua Otomo, head of the ecotoxicology research laboratory at the University of the Free State. 

The recent cholera outbreak, which led to the death of 43 people in Gauteng and the Free State, has caused widespread concern and resulted in AfriForum's Environmental Affairs Manager, Lambert de Klerk, criticising the Ngwathe Local Municipality for its poor maintenance of infrastructure.

ALSO READ: Vaal River allegedly contaminated by water-borne cholera disease

“It is extremely worrying that the withdrawal point for Vredefort’s water is only 1km from the sewage spill. It is precisely in Vredefort where there are also confirmed cases of cholera and where a resident died from this bacteria. This information further proves that the Vaal River is indeed infected with cholera. 

“There are several places where the raw sewage flows into the river due to infrastructure that is burnt out or is simply not available, or load-shedding and the fact that there is no emergency assistance such as generators or emergency pumps,” De Klerk said.

In a statement issued by the university, Otomo warned that as long as the country’s wastewater treatment works are in a poor to critical state, the issue poses significant risks to public health and the environment.

“Our water systems are connected, and in South Africa, one of our greatest challenges is poorly treated wastewater systems and highly polluted rivers. The current cholera outbreak isn’t happening in peculiar regions. It’s in areas where people consume questionable drinking water. The water we have is not of good quality, and people shouldn’t be consuming it,” he said.

Otomo further explained that in a country like South Africa, where many people experience water scarcity or rely on unsanitary water sources, they are likely to be easily exposed to bacterial diseases such as cholera. He said the water treatment plants require urgent intervention and warned that, despite the current ease of the cholera outbreak, it’s only a matter of time before it resurfaces or other waterborne diseases wreak havoc unless the underlying problems are solved.

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