South Africa has reported over 500 cases of illness in two cities linked to poor tap water quality, mostly affecting children. Authorities admitted that a water treatment plant had not added chlorine for three weeks, but officials failed to warn the public about the health risks.
More than 500 South Africans have fallen ill with gastrointestinal symptoms causing abdominal cramps and diarrhea, believed to be connected to water quality issues in two cities across the country.
Officials issued a warning to residents in the eastern part of Pretoria, the capital city, to stop drinking tap water after 408 cases were identified, including many children seeking treatment at various healthcare facilities. Public health and municipal authorities said most patients were children under four years old.
Investigations found that patients in the affected area consumed contaminated water from a treatment plant supplying several communities east of Pretoria. It was discovered that this plant had not added chlorine disinfectant for about three weeks, rendering the water unsafe. The chlorine shortage was partly due to supply problems from the vendor, while the plant's raw water source, the Bronkhorstspruit River, was heavily polluted with sewage from an upstream wastewater treatment plant operating below capacity.
Nasiphi Moya, mayor of Tshwane—covering Pretoria and surrounding communities—revealed that preliminary investigations showed municipal officials did not notify affected areas that the tap water supplied had not been chlorinated and therefore should not be used for drinking, cooking, washing, or bathing, even if boiled.
Currently, municipal authorities are delivering water to residents using emergency water trucks, while the charity Gift of the Givers distributed bottled drinking water to communities last Thursday.
,AP
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