Amid a declared cholera outbreak, residents of Kap en Bou Informal Settlement are demanding that Grootfontein Municipality provide basic services to curb the spread. 

Paulus Shipikita, chairperson of Blocks 1 and 2, says the lack of municipal services has left hundreds of households in unhygienic conditions.​

The outbreak was detected on 18 November, with tests on five suspects confirming positive results six days later. 

The hotspot, where all suspects reside, lacks running water, proper sanitation, and electricity. The settlement was established in 2020 by land grabbers.

"We live with old people here and young people who are going to school. We don't have water here in our location; we don't have electricity. So we are in tough times here. We have been living in this location for five years, enduring this difficult situation alongside goats, cattle, and other animals. Non-stop flu is in our location; non-stop coughing is in our location. We can't even come close to someone who is coughing; you become scared. We reported this problem to our municipality, and we are still waiting for their response," said Shipikita.

In the meantime, Shipikita cautioned residents to keep their distance from one another.

On Wednesday, a team from the World Health Organisation held a closed-door meeting at the Grootfontein State Hospital to caucus on how to contain the spread of cholera.

Of the six confirmed cases, five are women and one a minor. Three more tests on suspected victims remain pending.

In a statement issued by Health Minister Esperanza Luvindao on 27 November, all the cases originate from the 'Kap en Bou' and 'Blikkiesdorp' locations.

None of them had any recent travel history. 

In declaring the outbreak, Dr. Luvindao urged residents not to panic, to stay hydrated and to use all preventative measures available to them, stressing that the disease is treatable.

She drew attention to a previous outbreak experienced in Kunene between June and August, which she said was successfully contained. 

Surveillance and rapid response teams, treatment centres and community engagement initiatives, she said, would follow the same methods used there.

In the meantime, residents are urged to use safe hygiene protocols and keep hydrated at all times