The DA opened a criminal case against the City of Tshwane (CoT) at Pretoria Central Police Station on Monday (October 19) alleging that municipal officials failed to maintain safe drinking water standards at the treatment plant serving Bronkhorstspruit.

The move comes as hundreds of residents received treatment for diarrhoea and other gastrointestinal illnesses, with some requiring hospitalisation in Pretoria.

According to reports from the Gauteng Department of Health, 349 residents had received treatment for diarrhoea and related symptoms by Friday (October 16).

Caxton Network News has received the report from an independent source investigating the outbreak on behalf of residents.

The National Department of Health reportedly found that three clinical specimens tested positive for one or more of the pathogens norovirus, Campylobacter and Shigella. A report warned that the sharp increase in cases raised concerns about a possible common source of exposure, including a waterborne outbreak.

DA alleges officials ignored warnings

DA mayoral candidate Cilliers Brink accused the ANC-ActionSA coalition of neglecting the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Plant despite repeated warnings about its condition.

“The city failed to chlorinate water at the [plant] for three weeks. We warned Mayor Nasiphi Moya and her ANC-ActionSA coalition repeatedly about the collapse of this plant. They ignored the warnings,” Brink said.

He also accused the administration of prioritising water tanker contracts over infrastructure maintenance.

According to the DA, the city spent R777m on water tankers during the 2024/25 financial year, compared with R181m on repairs and maintenance of water infrastructure.

The party has called for a forensic investigation into the tanker expenditure and demanded that the city release its water-quality test results, chlorine treatment records and operational reports.

Brink said the party wanted investigators to establish who authorised the tanker contracts, who benefited from them and why essential maintenance had allegedly been neglected.

The DA has also called on the city to explain why residents were not warned sooner about potential risks to their drinking water.

The city has not independently confirmed the allegation that chlorine treatment was interrupted for three weeks.

Community frustration over water quality

Resident Caranesta de Jager, who has campaigned for improvements to the local water supply, said she doubted whether the latest criminal case would lead to anyone being held accountable.

Residents have struggled with water shortages and concerns about water quality for years, De Jager said.

“Our water, which we are paying for, is undrinkable. It is not suitable for human consumption,” she said.

The latest case is not the first time political parties have approached the police over alleged municipal failures. Whether the investigation will result in criminal charges will depend on the evidence gathered and whether investigators establish that specific individuals committed offences.

The case also raises questions about responsibility for the operation and oversight of the treatment plant, including which officials were responsible for ensuring that drinking water met the required standards.

The competing claims about the plant’s condition remain unresolved.

ActionSA Ward 105 councillor Cobus Coetzee previously disputed claims that the plant was not functioning properly, saying the city had introduced upgrades and operational interventions and had allocated R57m for further improvements during the 2026/27 financial year.

Coetzee described the plant as being in ‘perfect working condition’.

CoT  has previously said that a waterborne illness was one possible explanation for the reported illnesses, but that the cause had not been established. It has advised residents to use alternative safe water supplies while investigations continue.

Caxton Network News sent questions to the city, but no response had been received by the time of publication.

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