Simon Majadibodu|Published
President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the water contamination crisis in Bronkhorstspruit, east of Pretoria, as unacceptable after the number of reported gastrointestinal illness cases rose to 833.
Ramaphosa made the remarks in Mamelodi, north-east of Pretoria, on Monday.
He blamed failures at municipal level for the crisis, saying the contamination had exposed weaknesses in the City of Tshwane’s water operations.
“What has happened in Bronkhorstspruit is a complete dereliction of the work and the duties that the municipality of Tshwane was supposed to be executing,” Ramaphosa said.
“And it is really sad and unacceptable that in the end it leads to diseases that are going to spread amongst our people.”
Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina confirmed the latest figures during a media briefing on Monday. Three residents remain in hospital.
Water contamination leaves hundreds ill
The latest figures follow reports of hundreds of gastrointestinal illness cases in Bronkhorstspruit and surrounding communities between October 7 and 18.
The crisis has been linked to inadequately chlorinated water supplied by the Bronkhorstspruit water treatment works, leaving residents ill, with some requiring hospitalisation.
The treatment works has since been closed, with affected residents relying on water tankers for their supply.
The developments come as the City of Tshwane lifted a boil-water advisory for Pretoria’s central business district after laboratory tests confirmed that the water was safe to drink.
However, the Bronkhorstspruit crisis has raised renewed concerns about water quality, municipal oversight and the ability of local authorities to provide safe and reliable services.
Government preparing for El Niño
Ramaphosa also said the government was preparing for the potential effects of El Niño, which can increase the likelihood of drier conditions in parts of southern Africa.
“Water is a challenge for all of us in South Africa, more so during the El Niño phenomenon. And we are getting ready,” he said.
An inter-ministerial committee had been established to co-ordinate the government’s response, and funding had been allocated to address the anticipated effects.
He warned that rainfall could be limited during the middle of the summer season, making preparedness essential.
The South African Weather Service describes El Niño as a climate phenomenon associated with warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, which can influence weather patterns around the world.
Ramaphosa calls for stronger municipal water management
The president said he had established a national water crisis committee because water security had become a major concern across the country.
“We are a water-scarce country, and we therefore need to use water sparingly. But having said that, much of our water operations are the competencies of municipalities, and that is where we have found weakness, particularly here in Tshwane,” he said.
Ramaphosa said the national government was increasingly taking responsibility for addressing water challenges while supporting municipalities with bulk water supply, distribution networks and resource management.
“We are now beginning to take charge. We're beginning to say water is a national right for all South Africans, and is an important issue,” he said.
He added that the government needed to ensure water resources were properly managed while helping municipalities improve water availability and distribution.
“It's an intergovernmental issue that we are addressing together with our municipalities. Because we've seen the gaps, as well as the weaknesses at the municipal level,” he said.
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