Water department opens criminal case against Tshwane over Bronkhorstspruit water

Officials told parliament's portfolio committee on health on Friday that the department opened the case on 18 October under the Water Services Act. Anet Muir, chief director for water use compliance and enforcement, said the city did not act on its corrective action plan. She said: "None of these commitments were implemented in the time frames that were provided".

Muir said the city warned residents about turbidity but did not explain the microbiological risk. She said the city also failed to tell the community when it found non-compliance. She said the lack of chlorination was the major cause of the illness cases.

Bronkhorstspruit Hospital attended to 269 patients and admitted 18. The plant kept running for 21 days after chlorine was last used on 23 September.

Billy Sepuru, Tshwane's acting group head of water and sanitation, said the plant had not consistently produced compliant water since October 2025. He said chlorine supply problems and limited capacity played a part. The city has about six weeks of chlorine supply, and R86m is allocated for the plant's upgrade.

Rand Water now manages the treatment works for Tshwane. It said compliant water could return within a week. Its programme to optimise the plant's full capacity will take 14 to 16 weeks.