South Africa will not stop Zimbabweans infected with cholera from coming across the border at Beit Bridge for treatment, Health Minister Barbara Hogan said on Wednesday.

Briefing the media in Pretoria on the spread of the infectious disease in that country, she said the situation there was "dire".

The latest figures showed there were 8887 suspected cases of cholera in Zimbabwe, and 366 people had died of the disease.

No need for state of emergency - Zim

Hogan's briefing came only hours after Zimbabwe's Deputy Health Minister Edwin Muguti said the cholera outbreak in his country was "under control".

He was quoted by AFP in Harare on Wednesday morning as saying there was no need to declare a state of emergency in the country.

Zimbabweans suffering from cholera have been crossing into South Africa in recent weeks.

Hogan said 187 Zimbabweans had been treated for cholera in Limpopo up to Monday this week. There were also nine case in Gauteng, and six suspected cases in KwaZulu-Natal.

However, the outbreak was "Zimbabwe-based" and there was no crisis in South Africa.

Travellers warned

Hogan warned that travellers to the Beit Bridge area in Zimbabwe were at risk of contracting cholera, and should take precautions. These included sterilising or boiling all drinking water.

Asked if she had been surprised to hear the situation was "under control" in Zimbabwe, Hogan noted there was not yet a recognised government in that country.

"I take the comment that there is no crisis as coming from a particular quarter... and not reflective of the entire spectrum of thinking within Zimbabwe itself."

SA alarmed by situation in Zim

She said Cabinet was alarmed about what was happening in Zimbabwe.

"The situation [there] is dire," she said.

South Africa was obliged to assist those Zimbabweans stricken with cholera and would not stop the passage of people who were ill across its borders.

"We will provide assistance to those who are poor, ill, sick and dying who are crossing our borders."

World Health Organisation (WHO) representative in South Africa Stella Anyangwe told journalists that Zimbabwe was calling for urgent supplies of basic water treatment equipment and medical supplies, including body bags.

She said the value of the items called for was US$117 000.

Sapa