The City suspended supply from the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Works following the outbreak.
The Department of Water and Sanitation said Tshwane failed to chlorinate water for three weeks between September 24 and October 14 because of a dispute with a supplier.
WaterCAN Communications Manager Jonathan Erasmus said the failure reflected a breakdown in municipal planning, management and oversight. “An operational decision was taken not to source additional chlorine and to continue allowing water that had not been treated for three weeks to flow into people’s homes,” Erasmus said.
“One or two days of a problem is forgivable. Three weeks, 21 days, is a serious dereliction of duty.”
Erasmus said the Bronkhorstspruit area had experienced water-quality problems for more than a year, including pump failures and previous reports of contaminated water.
WaterCAN is considering legal action alongside other civil society organisations to hold responsible officials accountable.
The organisation said at least six criminal cases involving Tshwane’s water and sanitation infrastructure had been opened between 2020 and 2024.
WaterCAN is seeking information about progress in the investigations amid concern that some cases may have stalled. “It is all very well to have a criminal case opened, but if there is no information coming from that, the community is being let down,” Erasmus said.
“Communities where children have been ill deserve feedback about what has happened with these criminal cases.”
Erasmus called on the Department of Water and Sanitation to strengthen enforcement against municipalities failing to meet drinking-water standards.
Municipalities that repeatedly failed to provide safe water should risk losing authority to deliver the service, with responsibility potentially transferred to another municipality or water board.
Erasmus said accountability should include disciplinary proceedings, dismissal and criminal prosecution where negligent conduct caused serious harm. “We should not allow officials to resign the moment they are in trouble,” Erasmus said.
“If dereliction of duty has resulted in a crime being committed, those responsible should be held accountable.”
–ChannelAfrica–
