South African President Cyril Ramaphosa took steps to reassure residents of a community near Pretoria, the capital, following a devastating cholera outbreak that claimed the lives of 29 individuals.

In an effort to address the situation, President Ramaphosa visited the local water treatment plant and openly acknowledged the government’s failure to prevent the outbreak. He candidly stated, “The water that is being supplied from the Temba water works is unsuitable for human consumption. We have let down the people of Tshwane, and I take full responsibility for that.”

Authorities are currently conducting investigations to determine the origin of the outbreak and prevent any further spread of the disease.

On a concerning note, provincial health authorities reported that, in the past week, 165 individuals have sought medical attention at a local hospital in Hammanskraal due to symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting, all of which are associated with cholera.

President Ramaphosa expressed some relief, saying, “I have been informed that the number of people being admitted to hospitals with cholera has significantly decreased. However, investigations are still underway to conclusively identify the source of this outbreak.”

The United Nations reported that South Africa experienced its first two cases of cholera in February, likely as a result of outbreaks in nearby Mozambique and Malawi, these are countries most severely affected by cholera in 2023.