Wendy Dondolo|Published
In Bronkhorstspruit and the surrounding areas, health authorities have reported up to 160 cases of diarrhoea and other stomach problems. The City of Tshwane is looking into these cases as they work to find out what caused the outbreak.
The cases were reported between October 7 and 12, with most patients treated at Bronkhorstspruit Hospital. Other patients were treated at Mamelodi Hospital, Steve Biko Academic Hospital and Wilgers Hospital.
No deaths have been reported.
The city said a waterborne illness was among the possible explanations, but investigations were ongoing, and no link to the water supply had been confirmed.
Tshwane MMC for Health Tshegofatso Mashabela said the city had intensified water testing at the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Plant and across the distribution network to determine whether the water supply could be linked to the illnesses.
Water safety under investigation
A multidisciplinary team comprising the City of Tshwane, Tshwane District Health Services, and the provincial and national departments of health is investigating the reported cases.
Mashabela said blood and stool test results from affected patients were still pending.
“While the illness may be water-borne, the true cause has not yet been established,” the statement said.
As a precaution, residents have been encouraged to use alternative safe water supplies, including water distributed by City tankers, while investigations continue.
The City said tankers supplying water to Region 7 source their water from Cullinan, outside the affected supply area. City-owned tankers are disinfected daily, and drivers have received training in the safe handling of drinking water.
Residents urged to seek medical attention
The City urged residents experiencing persistent diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, weakness or dehydration to seek medical attention, particularly where children, older people and other vulnerable residents are affected.
Mashabela said the City understood the concern caused by the illnesses and was working to establish their cause as quickly as possible.
“The City's immediate concern is for the residents who are ill and the families caring for them. We understand the concern this is causing and are working to establish what is making people ill as quickly as possible,” she said.
The City said alternative water supply measures remained in place while the investigation continued.
Water treatment plant undergoing improvements
The reported illnesses come as the City continues work at the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Plant under its Water Stabilisation Plan and longer-term Water Master Plan.
The planned improvements include refurbishing the filtration system, upgrading pumping infrastructure, cleaning and disinfecting reservoirs, and increasing water-quality monitoring.
According to the City, a broader refurbishment of the plant is also under procurement to modernise ageing infrastructure, improve treatment processes and restore the facility towards its full design capacity of 54 million litres per day.
The City said the programme was intended to stabilise water supply in the short term while addressing ageing infrastructure and strengthening Tshwane's long-term water security.
Authorities said they would continue investigating the reported illnesses and communicate confirmed findings as more information became available.
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