Tshwane: Bronkhorstspruit Discoloured Water Sparks Health Crisis

• Residents in Zithobeni and Ekangala, near Bronkhorstspruit, are experiencing discoloured tap water, leading to health issues like diarrhoea and stomach pains.
• The City of Tshwane faces a R26-billion infrastructure backlog and is currently losing about 45% of its treated water, with its wastewater treatment Green Drop score below 34%.
• Previous warnings in November 2025 and August 2026 advised Bronkhorstspruit residents not to drink or cook with the water, and confirmed typhoid cases have been reported.
• Despite resident reports and a media inquiry on September 28, the City of Tshwane has failed to provide a response or investigate the discoloured water issues.

The persistent issues with water quality in the Bronkhorstspruit region are deeply rooted in systemic failures within the City of Tshwane's water infrastructure.

Residents in areas surrounding Bronkhorstspruit, particularly Zithobeni, are grappling with severe concerns over the quality of their tap water, which frequently appears discoloured. This issue has led to widespread fears of water-borne illnesses among the community. Nicky Sibanda, a Zithobeni resident, reported that she and her one-year-old child are compelled to consume this questionable water directly from their taps. Sibanda herself has endured days of diarrhoea and stomach pains, symptoms she strongly attributes to the water supply. Her infant has also received treatment for diarrhoea and remains unwell, causing her ongoing distress.

The dire situation forces residents like Sibanda to choose between consuming the discoloured tap water or purchasing bottled water, an option not always financially viable. Sibanda, for instance, must pay R5 for each five-litre container of drinking water from local vendors in Zithobeni. Despite municipal water tankers being observed frequently passing through Zithobeni, they often bypass Sibanda's home and other affected sections, delivering water to neighbouring areas instead. Another Zithobeni resident, Juvenile Nahasse, noted the water's murky appearance last month and appealed directly to the municipality to provide potable water and resolve the persistent problem.

These individual accounts are not isolated. Several other residents have voiced similar anxieties about contracting water-borne illnesses. Sophy Mbonani, residing in Ekangala township approximately 16 kilometres away, also experienced diarrhoea and stomach pains, suspecting her tap water as the cause. The township of Zithobeni itself has been plagued by poor water quality, significant contamination risks, and frequent supply disruptions, creating a chronic public health challenge for its inhabitants.

The persistent issues with water quality in the Bronkhorstspruit region are deeply rooted in systemic failures within the City of Tshwane's water infrastructure. The ongoing problems, including poor water quality, contamination risks, and supply interruptions, are directly linked to ageing infrastructure and operational failures at treatment plants. This critical state is further underscored by Tshwane's Green Drop overall score for wastewater treatment, which stands alarmingly below 34%, indicating significant deficiencies in its wastewater management.

These infrastructure shortcomings and their impact on residents have not gone unnoticed by regulatory bodies. During a public inquiry held in May by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) into water failures across Gauteng municipalities, the extent of the City of Tshwane's infrastructure backlog was revealed to be approximately R26-billion. The inquiry also highlighted that the City loses a substantial 39% of its water, pointing to severe inefficiencies in its distribution network. Furthermore, the City faced questioning regarding prolonged water outages specifically affecting Bronkhorstspruit, indicating a long-standing pattern of service delivery challenges.

Past warnings from the City itself paint a grim picture of the water's safety. In November 2025, Bronkhorstspruit residents were explicitly advised against drinking or cooking with their tap water due to high turbidity levels. This warning was reiterated in August 2026, when the City again cautioned residents not to consume the water. Compounding these alerts, confirmed cases of typhoid have been reported in the affected areas, raising serious public health alarms and validating residents' fears about the safety of their water supply.

Despite the escalating health concerns and clear evidence of infrastructure deficiencies, residents report a disheartening lack of responsiveness from municipal authorities. Nicky Sibanda, for instance, stated that her attempts to report the suspected water contamination to the City yielded no resolution. Similarly, residents recall a promise from the City to investigate the discolouring of water at the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Plant, yet they have received no further communication or updates on this crucial matter. This perceived municipal inaction exacerbates the community's frustration and vulnerability.

In an effort to obtain official commentary on the crisis, GroundUp, a news organization, dispatched a comprehensive list of questions to City spokesperson Lindela Mashigo and the municipal media team on September 28. While the City confirmed receipt of the inquiry and pledged to provide a response, no official statement or explanation has been forthcoming. This silence from the City of Tshwane leaves residents and the public without crucial information regarding the ongoing water quality issues, the steps being taken to address them, or a timeline for resolution, further deepening the sense of abandonment among the affected communities.

Source: Original reporting via GroundUp