South African power utility Eskom on Monday confirmed that the cholera tests taken last week after 61 workers fell ill are negative.

Work at Medupi power station, which is currently under construction, was suspended on Thursday afternoon after the workers complained of symptoms similar to those associated with cholera.

Eskom took the precaution of testing the water in the Lephalale area and the tests have returned negative, leading the power utility to suspect food poisoning.

The power utility said on Monday morning that construction at the site had resumed, with all of the 61 construction workers who had reported ill last week back at work.

There are currently 3,000 workers on site.

The R80 billion Medupi power station project involves the construction of a coal-fired power plant and comprises six 800MW units.

Providing a total installed capacity of 4,800MW installed capacity, the project's first unit is scheduled to be commissioned in 2012 with the last unit scheduled for commissioning by 2015.

Source: I-Net Bridge