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URGENT ALERT: Do not drink or use tap water, residents of east Tshwane region warned
Authorities say chlorine failures and sewage pollution contaminated the supply, with tests finding norovirus, Campylobacter, Shigella and extremely high E. coli levels.
- On Monday, Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi, Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina, and Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi confirmed 408 gastrointestinal illness cases in Tshwane's Region 7 between October 7 and October 18, predominantly affecting children under four.
- An investigation found the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Works failed to chlorinate water from September 24 to October 14 due to supplier disruptions, while the plant's source water is heavily polluted by sewage from upstream dysfunctional wastewater treatment works in Victor Khanye Municipality.
- Laboratory tests detected Norovirus, Campylobacter, and Shigella in patient samples, while water analysis confirmed "extremely high levels of E. coli and total coliforms in the water." Officials admitted they "failed to warn residents" that unchlorinated water was unsafe for consumption.
- The City of Tshwane deployed 36 water tankers from Cullinan to provide clean drinking water, though the Bronkhorstspruit plant reopened October 16 remaining unsuitable for consumption. Authorities are pursuing disciplinary actions against officials who withheld information about chemical shortages.
- Water management expert Anthony Turton warns that South Africa's sewage crisis poses an "existential threat to the national economy," as the 2025 Green Drop report classified 396 wastewater systems across the nation as critically underperforming.
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In South Africa's Gauteng province, 408 people, most of whom are under four years old, have reportedly fallen ill due to contaminated tap water.
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Tshwane failed to warn residents about unsafe water
Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina says the City of Tshwane failed to warn Bronkhorstspruit residents that their tap water was unsafe after the treatment works stopped chlorinating its supply. Authorities reported 408 cases of gastrointestinal illness between October 7 and October 18, 2026. Most patients were children under four. The Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Works […]
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Total News Sources12
Leaning Left2Leaning Right2Center1Last UpdatedBias Distribution40% Left, 40% Right
Bias Distribution
- 40% of the sources lean Left, 40% of the sources lean Right
40% Right
L 40%
C 20%
R 40%
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