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Joburg Water calls viral contamination message fake

Published

Joburg Water says a message claiming all water in the city is contaminated and unsafe to drink did not come from the utility or the City of Johannesburg. It asks residents not to forward unverified messages.

Joburg Water spokesperson Nombuso Shabalala said the city has no confirmed citywide contamination incident. She also said Johannesburg water meets quality standards. Any water quality advisory applies only to the areas named in the notice.

Shabalala spoke about a sewer pipeline incident in Bez Valley last week. She said a tree stump fell into a sewer pipeline being laid by a contractor, which raised concern that it might have mixed with drinking water. Samples taken on Thursday showed no contamination, and Joburg Water confirmed this on Friday.

Residents who notice an unusual colour or smell in their water can report it to Joburg Water on 010 061 4470.

Key facts

Who
Nombuso Shabalala (spokesperson for Joburg Water); Mandy Wiener (presenter, 702 and CapeTalk); Joburg Water (water utility of the City of Johannesburg); Johannesburg Water (Entity that dismissed the messages as fake)
What
Joburg Water spokesperson Nombuso Shabalala said a circulating message claiming Johannesburg's water is contaminated is fake, and that no contamination has been reported in the city. She said a Bez Valley sewer pipeline incident last week was not confirmed as contamination, and samples taken on Thursday showed no contamination when confirmed on Friday.
When
27 October 2026
Where
Johannesburg, Bez Valley
Status
Reported

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