×

We've got news for you.

Register on SowetanLIVE at no cost to receive newsletters, read exclusive articles & more.
Register now

MAYOR DENIES COUNCIL WATER SPREADs CHOLERA

BAD TIMES: Zimbabwean women wash shoes at Musina showgrounds in Limpopo. Thousands of immigrants are staying in makeshift houses near Musina and have no food for Christmas. 21/12/08. Pic. Elijar Mushiana. © Sowetan.
BAD TIMES: Zimbabwean women wash shoes at Musina showgrounds in Limpopo. Thousands of immigrants are staying in makeshift houses near Musina and have no food for Christmas. 21/12/08. Pic. Elijar Mushiana. © Sowetan.

Frank Maponya

Frank Maponya

A Limpopo mayor has flatly denied reports that a local municipality is supplying water contaminated with cholera to needy communities.

The reaction of Mogalakwena local municipality mayor Bob Mmola yesterday follows reports that a number of villagers in the GaMatlala area had contracted cholera after using water provided to them through water tankers. The villagers fetch water from the tankers and store it in their own drums.

A highly placed source in Lekhureng village in GaMatlala said samples of water taken from the drums of three families in the village had tested positive for cholera.

At least 46 cholera cases have been reported in the village recently.

The villager said it was "strange" that the water being provided to them by tankers could be contaminated with the disease.

He said the villagers had relied heavily on water provided by the municipality thinking it would save them from the killer disease.

"And now this," he said.

The villager said there were strong suspicions that the disease came from the tankers.

But Mmola denied the allegations.

"We are aware of the dangers posed by the disease on people's lives and cannot stoop so low as to deliberately provide them with contaminated water for household use," he said.

Mmola said they would move swiftly to have the water tested to dispel the allegations.

"We are aware that there are no water sources in some of the villages in our municipality. And we are doing our best to help," he said.

Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.