Parliament on Wednesday welcomed the report that there are no cases of Ebola in South Africa.

"The portfolio committee on health welcomes the report by the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, that South Africa... does not have cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD)," committee spokesman Justice Molafo said in a statement.

"During the meeting that took place in Johannesburg last night, Minister Motsoaledi told the committee that South Africans should not panic."

Molafo said that according to the minister, the disease was widespread in the three West African countries; Guinea, with 362 laboratory-confirmed cases and 231 deaths; Liberia, with 158 confirmed cases and 132 deaths; and Sierra Leone, with 656 confirmed cases and 259 deaths.

Motsoaledi added that there were sporadic EVD cases in Nigeria, with two deaths and 13 people suspected to be infected.

"The committee is pleased that the department of health has identified 11 hospitals that will be able to treat EVD across the country should the need arise," he said.

The hospitals are Polokwane Hospital in Limpopo, Rob Ferreira Hospital in Mpumalanga, Charlotte Maxeke and Steve Biko Hospitals in Gauteng, Addington Hospital in KwaZulu-Natal, Klerksdorp Hospital in North West, Pelonomi Hospital in the Free State, Kimberley Hospital in Northern Cape, Frere and Livingstone Hospitals in the Eastern Cape, and Tygerberg Hospital in the Western Cape.

Committee chairwoman Lindelwa Dunjwa said: "It is inspiring to know that South Africa and the SADC region are not affected by EVD as it was falsely reported by some sections of the media. This gives us confidence to go back and share this information with the public in our respective constituencies".