Residents warned not to drink tap water after hundreds fall sick near South Africa capital
Residents living near South Africa’s capital, Pretoria, have been warned not to drink or cook with tap water after more than 400 people, mostly children under four, fell ill after drinking contaminated water. The cases were detected in Tshwane, the area which includes Pretoria, after people reported to their local hospital with “stomach cramps and [...] The post Residents warned not to drink tap…
In a recent outbreak near South Africa's capital, Pretoria, more than 400 individuals, predominantly children under four, were reported to have fallen ill after consuming contaminated tap water. This health scare occurred in Tshwane, the region encompassing Pretoria, following complaints of stomach cramps and diarrhea over a two-week span, according to local officials.
While there have been no fatalities, high concentrations of E. coli were discovered in the water supply. Tshwane has experienced recurrent outbreaks of waterborne illnesses in recent years; notably, a 2023 cholera epidemic in a township outside Pretoria claimed 29 lives, which was attributed to subpar water purification methods.
In October 2025, Tshwane authorities issued a warning to residents against drinking or cooking with tap water after over 400 people, primarily young children, became ill from contaminated water. The outbreak, detected in Tshwane, the area including Pretoria, resulted in symptoms such as stomach cramps and diarrhea. No deaths were reported, though E. coli levels were elevated.
Tshwane has a history of waterborne disease outbreaks, including a 2023 cholera case in Hammanskraal that killed 29 people due to poor water purification. On Monday, the departments of water and health released a joint statement confirming 408 cases between October 7 and 18 in several townships. Tests indicated exposure to contaminated water from a nearby water treatment plant serving multiple communities east of Pretoria.
Pathogens like norovirus, campylobacter, shigella, and others causing stomach issues were found in the samples. Local authorities were criticized for not alerting residents about the unsafe water. The water supply was deemed unsuitable for human consumption, and authorities advised residents to use it solely for flushing toilets.
Emergency tankers were deployed to provide clean drinking water, and residents were instructed to discard previously stored water and sanitize containers with household bleach.
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