Tshwane water contamination causes illness in hundreds

More than 400 people, primarily children under the age of four, have fallen ill with gastrointestinal diseases in Bronkhorstspruit and surrounding areas in the City of Tshwane. Investigations by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) revealed that the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Works failed to chlorinate the water supply between 24 September and 14 October 2026 due to issues with a chlorine supplier.

Laboratory analyses of stool specimens identified pathogens including Norovirus, Campylobacter, and Shigella, while water quality testing confirmed extremely high levels of E. coli and total coliforms. Officials noted that the water source was a river polluted by sewage from dysfunctional wastewater plants and faulty pump stations. While no deaths have been reported, the outbreak overwhelmed local clinics and Bronkhorstspruit Hospital at its peak.

Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina stated that tests showed no traces of cholera. Although the City of Tshwane has resumed chlorination and is distributing safe water via tankers, residents are warned that tap water remains unsafe for drinking, cooking, or bathing until the system is thoroughly flushed and reservoirs are cleared of untreated water.