More than 500 people in South Africa have fallen ill from a gastrointestinal illness characterized by stomach cramps and diarrhea, with authorities attributing the outbreak to poor water quality in two cities. In communities east of Pretoria, officials issued a warning this week advising residents to stop drinking tap water after 408 people, including many children, required treatment at health facilities.
Water contamination in Pretoria
Most of those affected in the capital region were children under 4. Health and city officials stated the illnesses stemmed from contaminated water supplied by a treatment plant serving areas east of Pretoria. Authorities confirmed the plant had not been chlorinated for approximately three weeks because the municipality struggled to obtain supplies from its usual provider. The facility draws water from the Bronkhorstspruit River, which is heavily contaminated with sewage from malfunctioning wastewater treatment plants located upstream.
An initial investigation found that city officials failed to warn residents about the water quality. Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya stated that the investigation revealed officials did not inform the public “that the water being supplied had not been chlorinated and therefore should not be drunk or used for cooking, washing or bathing, even after boiling.” On Wednesday, officials deployed emergency water tankers, while the charity Gift of the Givers provided bottled water. Political parties have since called for Moya to resign and for other officials to be fired.
Outbreak at Rhodes University
In the coastal city of Gqeberha, located in the Eastern Cape province, at least 111 students from Rhodes University have been treated for a gastrointestinal illness in recent days. While university and water authorities are still investigating the exact cause, they suspect water quality is to blame.
“Students who experienced severe symptoms were taken to hospital for medical attention and have since returned to campus,” university spokesperson Olwetu Gwanya said on Wednesday. The university has urged staff and students to practice safe water use, including drinking only boiled or bottled water, avoiding ice, and washing hands frequently with soap.
