South African officials have declared the border with Zimbabwe a disaster area as a result of a cholera epidemic that has killed nearly 800 people, a provincial government spokesman said today.

"The whole of the Vhembe district has been declared a disaster," Mogale Nchabeleng, a spokesman for the Limpopo provincial government, said. The provincial government took the decision after an emergency meeting earlier this week.

"Extraordinary measures are needed to deal with the situation," Mr Nchabeleng said.