Hammanskraal residents chase away Tshwane Mayor Amid cholera outbreak, Cilliers Brink Blames "Political Games"

• The City of Tshwane mayor, Cilliers Brink, was met with hostility when he tried to visit the Jubilee District Hospital in Hammanskraal
• Angry residents would not let him enter the hospital that had been treating cholera patients since the outbreak
• Brink believes that Hammanskraal residents were placed outside the entrance by the opposition

PRETORIA - Hammanskraal residents were less than enthused to see the City of Tshwane mayor, Cilliers Brink, on Monday, 22 May.

Brink tried to visit the Jubilee District Hospital in Hammanskraal but was met with angry residents instead. The hospital has been treating cholera patients since the outbreak, which has claimed 15 lives.

City of Tshwane mayor Cillers Brink chased away

Brink was supposed to join various government officials on a Hammanskraal site visit. The purpose of the site visit was to inform residents about the government's response to the cholera outbreak.

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According to TimesLIVE, frustrated residents ambushed the car Brink was being transported in at the hospital and forced it to turn away. They only allowed entry to the Deputy Minister of Water & Sanitation, David Mahlobo, and the Deputy Minister of Health, Sibongiseni Dhlomo.

A resident told News24 they were angry with the mayor because he had never visited Hammanskraal before the cholera outbreak.

"The mayor never came to address the people before, but now that people have died, he wants to act as if he cares," said Sophy Malope.

Residents said the water quality issue started in 2011, and they feel let down by the City of Tshwane council.

Tshwane mayor Cilliers Brink blames the opposition after he was chased away

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The Democratic Alliance mayor addressed the incident on social media and said the crowd outside the Jubilee Hospital was "clearly orchestrated".

Brink added that it was unfortunate that political games were being played during the cholera outbreak.

"It is deeply unfortunate that political games of this nature are being played in an attempt to prevent the city from doing our job. Which is really to attend to the situation out of diligent care of the people of Tshwane," said Brink.

The mayor stated they are still focused on finding the source of the cholera outbreak and are aware of water issues in various areas.

Brink also stated that residents in affected areas had been provided with water tanks.

Minister Dr Joe Phaahla cautions citizens about health risks after 2 people return from Malawi with cholera

Briefly News previously reported that Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla called for South Africans to maintain proper hand hygiene after cholera cases were recorded in the country.

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This comes after two sisters travelled from Johannesburg to Malawi, and while returning to South Africa, both developed symptoms. One was taken to a local clinic and was admitted to hospital.

The other sister said she developed symptoms that later cleared and did not seek healthcare. However, a family member was hospitalised with diarrhoea and dehydration.

Source: Briefly News