JOHANNESBURG — More than 500 people across South Africa have fallen ill in two separate gastrointestinal outbreaks linked to compromised water supplies, prompting urgent government interventions and political fallout.
East of the capital, Pretoria, authorities have warned residents to stop consuming tap water after 408 people, predominantly children under four, were treated for severe stomach cramps and diarrhea. The contamination has been traced to the Brakfontein water treatment plant, which supplies several communities in the City of Tshwane metropolitan municipality.
Officials confirmed the plant failed to chlorinate water for approximately three weeks due to difficulties procuring chlorine from its regular supplier. Compounding the issue, the plant draws from the Bronkhorstspruit River, which is heavily polluted by sewage from malfunctioning wastewater treatment facilities upstream.
An initial investigation revealed a critical communication failure: city officials did not alert residents that the unchlorinated water was unsafe for drinking, cooking, or bathing—even after boiling. On Wednesday, emergency water tankers were deployed to affected areas, while the humanitarian organization Gift of the Givers distributed bottled water.
Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya acknowledged the lapse, stating investigators found officials neglected to warn the public about the hazard. The admission has sparked calls from opposition parties for her resignation and the dismissal of other responsible officials.
Meanwhile, in the coastal city of Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape, at least 111 students at Rhodes University have been treated for similar symptoms over recent days. University spokesperson Olwetu Gwanya confirmed that students with severe cases were hospitalized but have since been discharged.
While university and water authorities continue to investigate the precise cause, water quality is the primary suspect. The institution has urged staff and students to exercise strict hygiene precautions, including consuming only boiled or bottled water, avoiding ice and uncooked foods washed in untreated water, and practicing rigorous handwashing.