Pretoria - Test results have confirmed that the Tubatse River in Limpopo is not contaminated with cholera but officials have urged residents living near the river to continue to boil water before drinking and other use as a precautionary measure.
On Monday, certain media reports alleged that parts of the river were contaminated with the disease.
Speaking to BuaNews on Thursday, spokesperson for the Limpopo Department of Water Affairs Leah Matlala, said: "We can now confirm that tests carried out at both the up and downstream parts of the Tubatse River came out negative."
She added that water taken from the Steelpoort sewage system had also tested negative.
Ms Matlala said that despite there being no evidence of cholera in the river, residents should still boil drinking water before use and wash their hands after using the toilet to ensure they stayed healthy.
The provincial department is expected to continue conducting tests at the river, with the next one planned for Monday.
On Wednesday, Limpopo Health spokesperson, Phuthi Seloba said there had been 52 new cases of cholera in the province.
Limpopo has the highest cholera infection rate in the country with 1854 people infected with the disease.
