Swine flu is under control, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said on Tuesday after reports of three more cases of the virus in South Africa.

"In our country we are able to control it despite the fact that we were having many visitors for all over the world in recent weeks," Motsoaledi said during his budget vote speech in Parliament.

The ever-threatening H1N1 virus had spread widely.

"Fortunately it is not virulent but just spreading widely. However, I must state that it is under control."

Three people were diagnosed with swine flu at the weekend, pushing the country's number of cases to seven.

The illness, caused by the H1N1 virus, presents itself with cold- or flu-like symptoms.

The first swine flu case in the country was detected in a 12-year-old boy who arrived from the US on 14 June.