- Residents across Bronkhorstspruit and nearby areas received urgent instructions on what they cannot use their tap water for
- Over 400 stomach illness cases were reported in the area, with most affecting children under four years old
- Tshwane's Executive Mayor admitted the city's failure after an investigation revealed unchlorinated water had been supplied for weeks
Source: Getty Images
GAUTENG — An indefinite and severe water restriction has hit communities in Bronkhorstspruit and neighbouring Tshwane localities, with officials emphasizing that boiling the municipal supply does not make it safe for consumption.
According to TimesLIVE, an emergency directive arrives in the wake of 408 gastrointestinal illness cases logged between 7 and 18 October 2026, predominantly affecting toddlers under the age of four, though zero deaths have been verified so far.
Prohibited uses of tap water
Through an official joint communication issued by national health and water authorities alongside Gauteng and Tshwane officials, strict bans were instituted. Populations residing in Zithobeni, Bronkhorstspruit, Dark City, Rethabiseng, and Sokhulumi are strictly barred from utilizing municipal water for cooking, drinking, showering, washing provisions, laundry, or brushing teeth. Flushing toilets remains the sole authorized application.
Furthermore, households were told to empty all stored tap supplies, disinfect vessels using household bleach, and refill them with alternative safe water stored in securely sealed containers. Individuals presenting with diarrhea or abdominal cramps were strongly advised to seek immediate medical attention at local clinics or hospitals.
To mitigate the shortage, the City of Tshwane dispatched 36 water trucks supplying verified safe water originating from Cullinan.
Origin of the contamination
An inquiry by the Department of Water and Sanitation revealed that the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Works pumped unchlorinated water into the supply grid from 24 September to 14 October 2026, while municipal management failed to inform citizens during this timeframe.
Laboratory analyses performed by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) identified Campylobacter, norovirus, and Shigella within clinical samples, while testing ruled out cholera. Water testing further uncovered massive levels of E. coli. Although the facility restarted functioning on 16 October once chlorine levels were replenished, pipeline water remains unauthorized for broad consumption.
During a media briefing on Monday, Executive Mayor Nasiphi Moya accepted municipal accountability. "We take responsibility for the negligence," Moya stated, clarifying that a chlorine provider quadrupled prices, talks collapsed, and municipal staff neglected to brief executive leadership. Moya noted that internal disciplinary proceedings against responsible parties have already commenced.
Concurrently, the Democratic Alliance lodged a criminal complaint against the municipality on Monday.
Upcoming developments
Independent evaluations by the Water Research Commission are underway, with preliminary findings anticipated on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, while a comprehensive breakdown regarding the system failure is scheduled for release on 28 October. Meanwhile, the NICD continues evaluating whether an official outbreak status should be declared. To prevent future failures, the City of Tshwane has suggested handing over plant operations to Rand Water.
Nasiphi Moya slams Brink over water crisis
In a related article, Briefly News reported on Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya’s response to former mayor Cilliers Brink’s claims about the Bronkhorstspruit water crisis, including the cholera concerns and disputed spending figures.
The crisis followed a chlorine supply failure at the local treatment plant and has been linked to 408 reported cases of gastrointestinal illness, most involving children under four. Disciplinary proceedings are under way, while officials investigate the outbreak and work to address water safety.
Source: Briefly News