Over 100 Bronkhorstspruit diarrhoea cases amid water safety concerns

Authorities are investigating over 100 cases of diarrhoea and other gastrointestinal illnesses that have been reported in Bronkhorstspruit, east of Pretoria , over the past two weeks.

In light of these cases, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the City of Tshwane says it is laying criminal charges against the municipality over alleged failures to ensure safe drinking water.

The DA’s mayoral candidate, Cilliers Brink, alleges the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Plant operated without chlorine treatment.

Brink says they are demanding answers over the alleged failure to protect residents’ health.

Deputy Minister David Mahlobo, MEC Jacob Mamabolo, Executive Mayor @nasiphim, Deputy Mayor @eugene_modise & @Rand_Water CEO Sipho Mosai conduct an oversight visit to Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Works to assess operations & strengthen reliable water supply. https://t.co/htxHgKeDhW — City of Tshwane (@CityTshwane) October 19, 2026 This morning our team joined Deputy Minister David Mahlobo, Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya, Deputy Mayor Eugene Modise & Rand Water as we conduct an oversight visit to Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Works to assess operations & ensure reliable water supply #GrowingGautengTogether https://t.co/tRIl7QSYtF — MEC Jacob Mamabolo (@JacobMamaboloSA) October 19, 2026 “We are here at the Central Police Station, where the Tshwane Municipality is headquartered, to lodge a charge against Tshwane in terms of the Water Services Act.

The charges relate to the failure to maintain water quality and to inform the public about the situation.

We want a thorough investigation into this,” says Brink.

Cholera Warning: Tshwane water emergency worsens, amid water tanker cash-in The Democratic Alliance (DA) has received information from a whistleblower that tests conducted at the Bronkhorstspruit Wastewater Treatment Works have detected cholera bacteria in water samples.

The DA has already called on Mayor Nasiphi Moya to release the water-quality test results.

If cholera has indeed been detected, this constitutes a serious public health crisis.

Residents have a right to know whether their water is safe to drink, and they must be informed immediately.

We will continue with laying criminal charges against the City of Tshwane today.

This is an extremely serious development in the unfolding public health crisis in Bronkhorstspruit, that has resulted in more than 160 being hospitalised.

Last week, the DA revealed information from a whistleblower alleging that the City of Tshwane had failed to chlorinate water at the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Plant for three weeks before the outbreak.