833 now sick in Bronkhorstspruit. When will your tap water be safe?
Stomach illness cases linked to Bronkhorstspruit's water have risen from 408 to 833. The treatment plant is shut, repairs will take weeks, and residents must rely on city tankers.
Cases of stomach illness linked to contaminated water in Bronkhorstspruit have more than doubled, from 408 to 833. Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina gave the new figure on Monday, 26 October, during a visit by the inter-ministerial committee on water led by Deputy President Paul Mashatile (SAnews).
No deaths or critical cases have been reported. Three people were still in hospital on Monday (IOL).
Why are cases still rising if the plant is shut?
The Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Works has been shut down, but Majodina said some water had already been treated and sent out before the shutdown. She also said some residents kept using water they had stored in containers after tankers arrived (SAnews).
With the plant closed, residents are relying on water tankers for their supply (IOL).
When will tap water be safe again?
There is no date. Mashatile said Rand Water, which is leading the repair team, needs "a few weeks" and could not give a specific timeframe (SAnews).
What has been done so far (SAnews):
- Four water pumps have been installed at the plant.
- Rand Water will restore Phase 1 of the two-phase plant first, and only safe water will be supplied when it restarts.
- There is enough chlorine for the next six to seven weeks, with more to be bought before stocks run low.
Where do I get safe water now?
The City of Tshwane is delivering free drinking water by tanker (SAnews). After complaints that some tankers never reached communities, Mayor Nasiphi Moya ordered Tshwane metro police (TMPD) officers to ride along with tankers to keep them on their routes (IOL).
Private tanker operators who want to help must now get the city's approval first. They have to bring their trucks to the Commando Building, on the corner of Lanham and Commando streets in Bronkhorstspruit, for authorisation and water-quality testing (IOL). Majodina said government did not know where water from some private tankers was being treated (IOL).
Which areas are affected?
The outbreak has centred on communities supplied by the Bronkhorstspruit plant in Tshwane's Region 7, including Bronkhorstspruit, Zithobeni, Dark City, Rethabiseng and Sokhulumi (GroundUp). Residents in nearby Ekangala have also reported contaminated taps (GroundUp).
What did Ramaphosa say?
Speaking in Mamelodi on Monday, President Cyril Ramaphosa called the crisis unacceptable and "a complete dereliction" of the City of Tshwane's duties (IOL). Majodina said at least R400 billion is needed to fix South Africa's ageing water infrastructure, and that government is auditing treatment works, starting with Gauteng (SAnews).
FAQ
How many people are sick in Bronkhorstspruit?
833 gastrointestinal illness cases had been linked to the water as of 26 October 2026, up from 408. No deaths or critical cases have been reported and three people were in hospital.
Is Bronkhorstspruit tap water safe to drink?
Not yet. The treatment plant has been shut for repairs and residents are relying on free city water tankers. The minister said water stored before the shutdown may have added to the cases.
When will the Bronkhorstspruit water plant reopen?
No date has been given. Deputy President Paul Mashatile said Rand Water needs a few weeks to fix the plant, starting with Phase 1.
Can private water tankers deliver in Bronkhorstspruit?
Only with City of Tshwane approval. Operators must take their trucks to the Commando Building, corner of Lanham and Commando streets, for authorisation and water testing.