The Free State health department expressed concern over the high number of diarrhoea cases experienced in the Moqhaka Local Municipality (Kroonstad).

Provincial health spokesman Jabu Mbalula said a task team was formed with the district municipality to address the situation of water safety, which focused on the Kroonstad region.

"We got concerned after people complained and found as a result that the municipality's water, which people are using, is not purified."

Mbalula said more than 300 diarrhoea cases were recorded recently in the Kroonstad, Steynsrus and Viljoenskroon areas.

He said environmental health officials were working actively on the ground helping people deal with the water problem.

Mbalula said it was the sole responsibility of the Moqhaka municipality to supply water and its service provider to purify it and declined to comment if the situation was resolved.

"We think the situation is under control."

Recently the Democratic Alliance in the Free State urged the Free State health MEC Sisi Mabe to investigate reports of incidents of diarrhoea in the municipality.

The party said it was suggested that the municipality was not able to purchase chlorine due to financial restraints in the municipal budget.

"More disconcerting is the fact that residents in Steynsrus, who have lately experienced frequent water shortages, have indicated that the water they receive from water tanks [does] not appear to be suitable for consumption," the party said in a statement.