Four more people have died in the Eastern Cape after drinking home brewed alcohol at iLitha village near King Williams Town.
Provincial health spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo says three people including a couple died at the hospital, while the fourth person died at the village.
This brings the total number of deaths as a result of concoctions to sixteen in the past two weeks.
Last weekend, 12 people were rushed to hospital after drinking a concoction mixture that had methylated spirit.
Kupelo says their department is concerned about the number of people who have died as a result of these concoctions.
“We urge people to refrain from drinking these home-made concoctions, because they are a health hazard and are very dangerous. There are still nine people being treated at Stutterheim Hospital for the same consumption or the same condition,” he explains.
Meanwhile, the South African Farmers Development Association (SAFDA) has on the other hand condemned the theft of sugarcane from farms in the Nkomazi region.
Residents allegedly steal the sugarcane to manufacture homemade beer.
Small-scale farmers have been raising concerns about the increase of sugarcane theft since the beginning of the national lockdown.
Government put a ban on the sale of alcohol since the beginning of the nationwide lockdown in March.
But from June 1, alcohol will be sold for domestic consumption on specified days.
In the video below, President Cyril Ramaphosa announces that alcohol will be sold under level 3
