Tshwane Tap Water Unsafe: Hundreds Ill From Pathogens

Residents in South Africa's Tshwane municipality, including Pretoria, have been warned to stop drinking tap water due to a significant outbreak of waterborne pathogens. The crisis, which emerged between October 7 and 18, has led to over 400 people seeking medical treatment, with a majority being children under four. Stool samples from affected individuals revealed the presence of norovirus, campylobacter, and shigella, alongside high levels of E. coli in the water from the Bronkhorstspruit water treatment plant.

The city of Tshwane stated that the water is only safe for flushing toilets. Investigations revealed the Bronkhorstspruit plant had not been chlorinated for three weeks because of problems with its chlorine supplier. While no cholera bacteria were detected, and no deaths have been reported, the national government has intervened to address the gastroenteritis outbreak, which President Cyril Ramaphosa described as a critical failure in water treatment.