At least 408 people, most of them children under four, have fallen ill with gastrointestinal infections after Tshwane’s Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Works supplied unchlorinated water for three weeks, with a joint investigation finding that the city failed to warn residents of the danger.
The cases were recorded between October 7 and 18, with most patients younger than four. No deaths have been reported. Laboratory findings point to contaminated water as the likely source.
A joint investigation by health authorities, the Department of Water and Sanitation and the City of Tshwane found that difficulties with the city’s chlorine supplier left the plant supplying unchlorinated water from September 24 to October 14.
The joint statement said the city failed to warn residents that the water was unchlorinated and unsafe for drinking, cooking, washing, or bathing, even after boiling. It said this was required under the 2025 Compulsory Standards for Water Services issued under the Water Services Act.
Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina said new cases peaked on October 13, when 72 were reported, before dropping to 16 on October 18.
“Between 7 and 18 October, it is confirmed that 408 cases of gastrointestinal illness have been reported. Most of the patients are under four years old. No deaths have been reported to date,” Majodina said.
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases detected norovirus, Campylobacter and Shigella in three of the four stool specimens analysed, alongside other pathogens associated with stomach cramps and diarrhoea. No cholera bacteria were found in those stool samples. Separate water tests on October 14 found extremely high levels of E. coli and total coliforms in water from the plant and the Ekandustria and Zithobeni reservoirs.
The affected communities include Zithobeni, Bronkhorstspruit, Dark City, Rethabiseng and Sokhulumi in Tshwane’s Region 7. The plant draws from the Bronkhorstspruit River, which the investigation found was polluted by sewage from dysfunctional wastewater treatment works under Victor Khanye Municipality and malfunctioning sewage pump stations in Tshwane.
Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya defended the city’s communication, saying officials needed to work with other agencies to establish the cause before making a definitive announcement. However, she did say that the city would hold those responsible accountable.
She said the city’s MMC for Health had communicated that diarrhoea cases were being reported, but officials were not yet in a position to confirm the cause. The investigation’s finding, however, concerned a separate issue: the failure to alert residents that the water had not been chlorinated.
The findings were discussed at an intergovernmental meeting on Sunday, October 18, attended by Majodina, Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, and Moya. The meeting received a consolidated report on cases, laboratory results, the investigation and urgent measures to protect communities.
The city closed the plant on October 14. Chlorine supplies were restored by October 15, and the plant resumed supplying the distribution system on October 16, but residents were told the water was not yet safe to drink.
The city is distributing drinking water by tanker from the Cullinan Water Treatment Works; tests indicate that the supply is safe. Authorities are increasing distribution through 36 tankers.
Residents have been told not to drink tap water or use it for cooking, bathing, brushing their teeth, washing food or clothes. The water may only be used to flush toilets. They have also been advised to discard stored water and disinfect containers with household bleach.
The investigation found that pumps, sand filters and other equipment at the plant were not working. Tshwane is in the process of appointing Rand Water to help improve the plant, but there is no timeframe for when tap water will again be safe to drink.
The Water Research Commission began independent testing on October 18, with initial results expected from Wednesday and a report on the causes due by October 28.
The DA has opened a criminal case against the city at Pretoria Central police station. | Additional comment by Andisiwe Makinana