GROUNDUP: Tshwane’s drinking water crisis a wake-up call for SA as sewage pollution sickens hundreds

More than 400 residents in the northern Gauteng suburb of Bronkhorstspruit fell ill with gastrointestinal diseases after consuming tap water contaminated with E. coli. National authorities confirmed on Monday, October 19, that the incident resulted from a three-week period during which the local water treatment facility failed to chlorinate the supply. Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi stated that no deaths had been recorded, although many victims were young children under the age of four. Most affected individuals were rehydrated and discharged within a day. The crisis stems from the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Works, which serves communities including Zithobeni, Dark City, Rethabiseng, and Sokhulumi. Between September 24 and October 14, municipal officials did not add chlorine to the water to kill harmful pathogens. Officials cited a supply shortage as the primary cause. Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya explained that the chlorine supplier held a monopoly position and that prices had allegedly increased fourfold. Negotiations between city water and sanitation officials and the supplier reached a deadlock. Despite the critical nature of the omission, residents were not warned that the water was unsafe. Consequently, families continued using the tap water for drinking and preparing food for infants. Department of Water and Sanitation tests conducted on October 14 revealed extremely high levels of E. coli and total coliforms in water drawn from the treatment works and two associated reservoirs. E. coli indicates recent faecal contamination. Some strains of the bacterium cause severe diarrhea, and a small percentage of cases can lead to kidney failure, a condition that is frequently fatal in children under five. High total coliform counts suggest the presence of other disease-causing germs. Laboratory analysis of patient samples identified norovirus, Shigella, and Campylobacter alongside the bacterial infections. The root cause of the contamination lies upstream in the Bronkhorstspruit River, which feeds the treatment plant. The river is heavily polluted with sewage originating from dysfunctional wastewater treatment works managed by the Victor Khanye Municipality. Additionally, broken sewage pump stations within the City of Tshwane contribute to the pollution load. Water management expert Dr. Anthony Turton noted that the national water system relies on an indirect reuse model, where treated sewage flows into rivers that subsequently supply drinking water plants. He argued that these facilities were designed assuming influent quality would meet specific parameters. They were not engineered to convert raw sewage into potable water, yet they are increasingly forced to operate under such conditions. The Department of Water and Sanitation’s 2025 Green Drop Report highlighted widespread infrastructure failures across South Africa. Sewer blockages and pump station outages allow raw sewage to bypass treatment plants entirely, resulting in direct river contamination. Of 848 audited systems, 597 scored below 31 percent in the critical category regarding the quality of treated effluent. The national average for microbiological compliance stands at 35 percent, meaning effluent routinely exceeds limits for faecal bacteria before discharge. Chemical compliance rates sit at 48 percent, indicating persistent failures in treating organic loads, ammonia, and nutrients. These deficiencies trigger eutrophication in receiving waters. Mayor Moya acknowledged that officials responsible for managing the plants failed to inform city leadership about the chlorine shortage promptly. She stated that disciplinary and consequence management processes were underway for those staff members. The City of Tshwane has allocated funds for repairs, spending R20.8 million on the plant in the 2025/26 financial year. Further approvals exist for R57 million in 2026/27 and R30 million in 2027/28. However, the facility, which is more than 60 years old, has not operated at full capacity for years due to frequent breakdowns. Tshwane spokesperson Lindela Mashigo confirmed earlier in September that the plant suffered from chronic mechanical issues. Despite the resumption of chlorination procedures, the water from the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Works remains classified as dangerous. Authorities advised residents to use the water only for flushing toilets. The community currently depends on 36 water tankers for safe drinking water. Similar health incidents have emerged elsewhere. In Makhanda, Rhodes University reported that community members were experiencing symptoms mirroring those in Bronkhorstspruit. Residents in that area have long complained about water quality and reported sewage flowing into their streets. In Mogale City, despite the government paying over R300 million to address sewage problems, the council continues to pump sewage into rivers and streets regularly. Political accountability remains a central issue. Mayor Moya, who has led the city since October 2024, promised that individuals would face consequences for the failure. Critics question whether these promises will be fulfilled, pointing to past instances where disciplinary actions against officials remained incomplete. For example, five officials implicated in the 2019 Rooiwal tender fraud faced delayed disciplinary processes, with initial findings recommending only minor salary deductions. Similarly, Deputy Mayor Eugene Modise faced allegations regarding a conflict of interest involving a security contract. While the council voted to dock his salary, it remains unclear if this penalty was fully implemented. The current crisis underscores the broader pattern of municipal non-accountability affecting public health infrastructure nationwide.