Public Health: South Africa
Key Facts
—Who. Residents of Bronkhorstspruit, Zithobeni, Dark City, Rethabiseng and Sokhulumi, in Region 7 of the City of Tshwane, the metropolitan area that includes Pretoria.
—What. 408 people developed stomach illness between 7 and 18 October 2026, most of them children under four, and no deaths have been reported.
—Finding. The local treatment works sent out water without chlorine from 24 September to 14 October, and tests found extremely high levels of E. coli.
—Now. Tap water remains unsafe for drinking, cooking and bathing, and 36 tankers are bringing in water from the Cullinan works.
—Next. Independent results from the Water Research Commission are due on 21 October and its final report by 28 October.
A water plant east of Pretoria sent out unchlorinated water for about three weeks, and 408 people, mostly small children, fell ill. South African authorities confirmed on 19 October that tap water in five communities is still not safe to use.
How the Outbreak Unfolded
The first cases date from 7 October. On 16 October the City of Tshwane told the public that between 140 and 160 people had been treated in six days, and that contaminated water was only one possible cause.
Three days later the count had passed 400. A joint statement from the health and water ministries, the Gauteng provincial government and the city put the total at 408 cases between 7 and 18 October, with a peak of 72 cases on 13 October and 16 new cases on 18 October.
Most patients are younger than four. Symptoms were stomach cramps and diarrhoea.
What the Tests Found
The Department of Water and Sanitation tested the water supply on 14 October. It found extremely high levels of E. coli and total coliforms, which are bacteria that signal faecal contamination, in water from the plant and in the Ekandustria and Zithobeni reservoirs.
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases found norovirus, Campylobacter and Shigella in three of the four stool samples it analysed, together with other pathogens that cause stomach cramps and diarrhoea. It found no cholera, Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina said at the briefing.
A Water and Sanitation investigation found that the City of Tshwane had difficulties with its chlorine supplier. As a result, water left the works without chlorination between 24 September and 14 October.
The river that feeds the plant is also a problem. The statement says it is badly contaminated with sewage from dysfunctional upstream wastewater works under the Victor Khanye Municipality and from dysfunctional Tshwane sewage pump stations.
Who Is Being Held to Account
Majodina said the City of Tshwane failed to warn residents in the affected areas that the water had not been chlorinated. She said this breached the 2025 Compulsory Standards for Water Services.
Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya acknowledged negligence and said officials who did not tell city leaders about the chlorine problem could face disciplinary action. The Democratic Alliance, which had threatened legal action on 16 October, has also said it opened a criminal case on 19 October.
Contaminated water is a problem well beyond South Africa. For a comparison with another African country, see our report on Ghana’s polluted water bodies.
What Residents Are Told to Do
The joint statement says tap water in the affected communities can only be used for flushing toilets. People should not drink it, cook with it, wash food or clothes with it, bathe in it or brush their teeth with it until further notice.
The plant was closed on 14 October, chlorine supply was restored on 15 October and the works reopened on 16 October. Officials say the water is still not safe to use.
The city is running 36 tankers that collect water at the Cullinan treatment works, which is outside the affected supply area and which officials say tested safe. Tshwane is also appointing Rand Water, a state-owned bulk water utility, as an implementing agent to improve the performance of the plant.
What It Means for You
Anyone staying in or visiting Region 7, including contractors, farm visitors and families with young children, should rely on bottled or tanker water for everything that touches the mouth. The statement names five affected communities and no other Tshwane suburbs, so travellers elsewhere in the city should follow local advisories.
For investors and expats, the episode is a reminder that service delivery varies sharply between South African municipalities. Our coverage of the Eskom tariff hearing and our South Africa hub follow the wider infrastructure picture.
What Is Not Known
The authorities have not said how many cases remain active, or when the tap water will pass independent safety tests. The Water Research Commission has promised first results on Wednesday 21 October and a final report by 28 October.
It is also not yet clear which officials will face disciplinary or criminal action, or whether more communities will be added to the warning. We will update this report when those facts are confirmed.
Sources
Joint media statement of the Ministries of Health, Water and Sanitation, the Gauteng Provincial Government and the City of Tshwane, 19 October 2026 (gov.za); South African Government News Agency, 19 October 2026 (sanews.gov.za); Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina, briefing of 19 October 2026 as reported by SABC News; EWN, 16 October 2026; Mail and Guardian, 19 October 2026; TimesLive, 19 October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the tap water in Bronkhorstspruit safe to drink?
No. The government’s joint statement of 19 October told residents of the affected communities not to drink tap water, cook with it, bathe in it or brush teeth with it, and to use it only for flushing toilets until further notice.
How many people fell ill?
The authorities counted 408 cases of gastrointestinal illness between 7 and 18 October 2026, most of them children under four. No deaths have been reported so far.
What caused the outbreak?
A Water and Sanitation Department investigation found that the treatment works supplied water without chlorine between 24 September and 14 October because of a problem with the chlorine supply. Tests found extremely high levels of E. coli in the plant and nearby reservoirs, and the source river is badly contaminated with sewage.
Was cholera found?
No. The National Institute for Communicable Diseases found norovirus, Campylobacter and Shigella in the stool samples it analysed, and no cholera bacteria.
Where does safe water come from now?
The city is running 36 water tankers that carry water from the Cullinan treatment works, which lies outside the affected supply area and which officials say tested safe.
When will the independent test results arrive?
The Water Research Commission began independent testing on 18 October. Its first results are expected on Wednesday 21 October and a final report is due by 28 October.