Story perspectives

Tshwane’s Chlorine Failure Sickened 408 Residents, Inquiry Launched

By Drooid · Oct 20, 2026, 2:43 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Tshwane Supplies Unchlorinated Water

The City of Tshwane supplied unchlorinated water, causing 408 illnesses.
The water plant lacked chlorine from 24 September to 14 October 2026.
City officials did not warn residents in Zithobeni, Bronkhorstspruit, Dark City, Rethabiseng and Sokhulumi.
Most patients were children under four years old and no deaths were reported.
The plant closed on 14 October and reopened on 16 October after chlorine was restored.

Summary

Moya Rejects Brink Claims

Mayor Nasiphi Moya denied former mayor Cilliers Brink’s claim cholera was found in water.
Brink accused Moya of exploiting the crisis for political gain and demanded water-test results.
Health officials opened an inquiry into 140-160 stomach-illness cases after Deputy Minister Jack Bloom urged water-tanker deployments.
Moya said 2024/25 tanker spending was R441 million, not R777 million.
The city will add trucks, fund infrastructure, and prioritise Bronkhorstspruit in the March 2026 Water Stabilisation Plan.

History

Historical Context

The 1998 KwaZulu-Natal cholera outbreak, which infected about 1,500 people, prompted a national emergency and a R200 million response by South Africa’s Health Department and the WHO. That crisis echoed a surge of cholera across Africa, where WHO recorded 140,000 cases in 2000, underscoring the continent’s recurring vulnerability to water-borne epidemics.

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Tshwane Supplies Unchlorinated Water

The City of Tshwane supplied unchlorinated water, causing 408 illnesses.
The water plant lacked chlorine from 24 September to 14 October 2026.
City officials did not warn residents in Zithobeni, Bronkhorstspruit, Dark City, Rethabiseng and Sokhulumi.
Most patients were children under four years old and no deaths were reported.
The plant closed on 14 October and reopened on 16 October after chlorine was restored.

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