Over 100 Bronkhorstspruit diarrhoea cases amid water safety concerns

Over a hundred cases of diarrhoea and other gastrointestinal illnesses have been reported in Bronkhorstspruit, a town east of Pretoria, over the past two weeks. This has led to criminal charges being laid by the Democratic Alliance (DA) against the City of Tshwane, alleging failures in ensuring safe drinking water. The DA's mayoral candidate, Cilliers Brink, claims the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Plant operated without chlorine treatment, which they say is the reason for the alleged failure to protect residents' health.

A team including Deputy Minister David Mahlobo, MEC Jacob Mamabolo, Deputy Mayor Eugene Modise and Rand Water CEO Sipho Mosai conducted an oversight visit to the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Works to assess operations and strengthen reliable water supply.