BRONKHORSTSPRUIT, Gauteng — The ongoing Bronkhorstspruit water crisis has prompted the City of Tshwane to officially hand over the local water treatment plant to the bulk water utility, Rand Water. This strategic decision comes as a massive relief to the community following a severe contamination scare that left hundreds of residents seeking emergency medical care.
Since the beginning of the month, contaminated tap water has triggered a wave of severe gastrointestinal illnesses across the area. According to a spokesperson for the Gauteng Department of Health, a total of 402 cases have been recorded at the Bronkhorstspruit District Hospital so far this month.
Despite the high initial numbers, health officials report a positive downward trend. The department’s spokesperson noted that patient admissions have been declining over the past four days. Currently, fewer than five patients remain admitted to the hospital and are expected to be discharged soon as their conditions stabilize.
However, the danger has not entirely passed. The Gauteng Department of Health has issued strict warnings, urging residents not to consume the tap water under any circumstances—even if it has been boiled—until the supply is officially declared safe for human consumption. Residents have been advised to use the municipal water strictly for non-consumptive purposes, such as flushing toilets.
For locals on the ground, the wait for safe water remains a daily struggle. A 32-year-old resident who relocated from Delmas to Zithobeni two years ago for work, says she has little choice but to continue using the municipal supply. Despite official warnings to stop, she cannot afford the alternative of constantly buying bottled water.
Zithobeni falls under Tshwane’s Region 7, an area characterized by high unemployment, low literacy, and significant economic challenges. Residents point out that these severe water issues were virtually non-existent when the area was governed by the now-defunct Kungwini Local Municipality. Under that previous administration, Rand Water acted as the implementing agent at the treatment plant.
The transition of power around 2016 and 2017, when the City of Tshwane took over following the end of a contract, is now being heavily scrutinized. Local leaders and residents blame the current crisis on a lack of municipal capacity. Concerns have been raised regarding whether the treatment plant is staffed by adequately qualified personnel to manage such a critical and sensitive community resource.
Frustration is mounting as residents demand that the City of Tshwane prioritize their health and well-being with the same urgency applied to more affluent parts of the capital. One local resident, whose four-month-old baby fell ill from the contaminated water before recovering, echoed the community’s unified plea, demanding clean, safe tap water directly from the taps.
