Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya said technical teams have repaired critical equipment, cleaned infrastructure and restored filtration and chlorination at the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Works.

Over the past three weeks, residents of Bronkhorstspruit and surrounding communities have experienced considerable hardship, with households and businesses facing prolonged disruptions and concerns about water safety.

Moya said on October 21, the city formally appointed Rand Water as an implementing agent to lead the rehabilitation works.

Rand Water has since mobilised a multidisciplinary team of engineers, scientists and operational specialists to work alongside the city’s technical personnel.

Moya expressed gratitude to Rand Water’s leadership and technical teams for their expertise, co-operation and commitment to restoring the facility.

“Our intention is for Rand Water to assist us in restoring and stabilising the treatment works, after which operational responsibility can be transferred back to the city when the plant is ready for a safe and orderly handover.”

She said Rand Water’s initial assessment identified extensive sludge accumulation in the clear-water tanks, dissolved air flotation units and filters, together with deficiencies in pumping and filtration equipment, chemical management, maintenance arrangements and the availability of critical spare parts.

She said these interventions are restoring the entire treatment process, from raw-water abstraction through filtration and disinfection to the final clear-water system.

Phase 2 commissioned

She said on October 28, Phase 2 of the treatment works was commissioned for flushing and disinfection.

“Further treatment and shock chlorination followed on October 29, including the disinfection of the clear-water sump. On November 2, the plant was recommissioned at 14:30 to supply treated water to the Ekandustria reservoirs for further shock chlorination.”

She added that this marks an important transition from repairing and cleaning the treatment works to preparing the downstream storage and distribution system for the safe restoration of supply.

According to Moya, cleaning has also been completed at the two Zithobeni reservoirs, with capacities of 30 million and 15 million litres respectively, and the Ekandustria reservoir system, comprising reservoirs of 11.5 million and 13.5 million litres.

“The remaining interventions include final shock chlorination, an outstanding valve installation at Zithobeni, further flushing and laboratory verification.”

She said water-quality testing has identified a low level of E. coli in water discharged during the cleaning of the clear-water sump.

“The necessary disinfection procedures will be repeated until testing confirms that the contamination has been eliminated.”

The mayor said with work progressing through commissioning, this does not automatically mean that water is ready for consumption.

She said Rand Water’s immediate role is to help restore and stabilise the treatment works, ensuring that it can consistently produce safe drinking water before operational responsibility is transferred back to the city.

Consequences and accountability

Moya added that the COO initiated a preliminary investigation into the operational failures at the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Works.

The preliminary report identified evidence suggesting serious shortcomings including “inadequate monitoring of chlorine-stock levels, ineffective inventory controls and a failure to proactively manage critical operational risks”.

Moya said the report further found preliminary evidence that the impending depletion of chlorine was not formally reported or escalated to senior management, preventing timely corrective intervention.

“It also identified failures to implement adequate contingency measures once the chlorine shortage became apparent, including measures to prevent potentially unsafe water from reaching consumers and to ensure that the necessary public health warnings were issued.”

She said on the strength of these preliminary findings, the plant manager was placed on precautionary suspension pending further investigation.

“However, having considered the report, I expressed serious dissatisfaction with its limited scope. While the report identified potential failures by the plant manager, it focused almost exclusively on one individual without adequately examining the wider chain of responsibility.”

A plant manager does not independently control the city’s procurement and supply chain systems.

“There are officials responsible for identifying requirements, managing procurement processes and contracts, ensuring the availability of essential chemicals and exercising operational oversight.”

She said the city’s chief audit executive has confirmed that the investigation has been formally registered and that independent external investigators have been appointed.

The investigation is under way, with relevant records, reports and operational information being gathered.

“The investigation must follow the evidence wherever it leads, including the actions or omissions of officials at all relevant levels. Where negligence, misconduct or dereliction of duty is established, appropriate consequence management must follow.”

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