JOHANNESBURG: Health officials say that a college student has become the first South African to die from?A(H1N1) flu.

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said that the H1N1 virus was confirmed as the cause of death Monday.

The student went to the campus clinic with flu symptoms but was later admitted to a private hospital. He was treated for pneumonia but did not recover.

There have been more than 500 swine flu cases reported in South Africa since mid-June. Some schools in Johannesburg have temporarily closed after pupils tested positive for swine flu.