Moya takes responsibility for Bronkhorstspruit water debacle

The City of Tshwane Mayor, Dr Nasiphi Moya, has taken responsibility for what she describes as negligence by municipal officials after the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Plant ran out of chlorine.

Speaking at a media briefing in Pretoria on Monday, she said disciplinary action is under way after senior city leadership was not informed in time about supply challenges at the plant.

The development comes as 408 cases of gastrointestinal illness have been reported in Tshwane’s Region Seven, with most cases involving children under the age of four.

No deaths have been reported.

Moya has also acknowledged that the city’s communication with affected communities may not have been adequate.

She says, “There are officials who are entrusted to manage the plants, and the fact that we, as leadership, were not informed on time that there is a problem with chlorine, even though they thought they were handling it, is something that is already under way through the COO because the officials are in the Water and Sanitation Department.” VIDEO | Over 400 cases of gastrointestinal illnesses reported in Bronkhorstspruit: Reporting by Musa Mhlongo.