The Democratic Alliance has filed a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission against the City of Tshwane and mayor Nasiphi Moya over the Bronkhorstspruit water crisis, calling for her resignation.

The party said the complaint seeks an urgent investigation into possible violations of residents’ constitutional rights to human dignity, a healthy environment and access to sufficient water.

DA Tshwane mayoral candidate Cilliers Brink said Moya admitted to “negligence” and claimed she “takes responsibility” for the crisis, yet allegedly hid chlorine shortages at the Bronkhorstspruit water treatment plant from residents for three weeks.

“For three weeks, the City supplied water without chlorine and failed to warn residents that it was unsafe,” Brink said on Monday.

“This has now become a public health crisis, with over 400 reported cases of serious illness, most involving children under the age of four.”

He said Moya’s admission of negligence was enough grounds for her to vacate her office.

“An apology is not accountability; she must accept the political consequences,” Brink said.

Government confirms contaminated water

Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina confirmed on Monday that contaminated water from the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Works caused the illness outbreak.

She said 408 cases were reported so far in October, with patients treated at hospitals and clinics in Zithobeni, Bronkhorstspruit, Dark City, Rethabiseng and Sokhulumi.

Laboratory tests by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases detected Norovirus, Campylobacter and Shigella in three of four stool specimens analysed. No cholera bacteria were found.

Water quality tests conducted by the department found extremely high levels of E. coli and total coliforms in water from the treatment works and in the Ekandustria and Zithobeni reservoirs.

Majodina said an investigation found the city experienced difficulties with chlorine supply, resulting in unchlorinated water from the plant between 24 September and 14 October.

She said the city failed to warn residents in the affected areas.

“As part of DWS’ regulatory function, necessary accountability steps have been initiated against those responsible for the water pollution and adherence to norms and standards governing provision of water and sanitation,” Majodina said.

The city closed the treatment works on 14 October, restored chlorine supply by 15 October and reopened the plant on 16 October, but informed residents the water was not yet suitable for drinking.

Residents have been warned not to consume, bathe in, brush teeth with, cook or wash clothes with tap water. The water can only be used for flushing toilets.

The city is deploying 36 water tankers to distribute drinking water to affected areas.

Criminal case opened

The SAHRC complaint follows a criminal case the DA opened at Pretoria Central Police Station on Monday.

Brink said the party had warned the ActionSA-ANC coalition repeatedly about the collapse of the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Plant, but the warnings were ignored.

“They continued to starve infrastructure of maintenance while pouring money into the water tanker mafia,” he said.

The DA has also written to the city manager proposing an eight-step action plan for Bronkhorstspruit and surrounding communities.

Eight-step plan proposed

The plan includes securing an uninterrupted chlorine supply with backup suppliers, minimum reserves and daily stock checks.

It calls for independent verification of the entire treatment process, including dosing equipment, filtration, pumps and monitoring instruments.

The DA wants contamination addressed in reservoirs and pipelines, including the Ekandustria and Zithobeni reservoirs, with appropriate cleaning, disinfection, flushing and testing at household taps.

Other steps include maintaining reliable supplies of verified safe water, publishing tanker schedules and giving residents clear instructions on permitted tap-water uses.

The party wants a weekly water-tankering cost tracker published, showing suppliers, rates, volumes, verified deliveries, municipal fleet costs and cumulative spending.

“Every invoice must be checked against delivery records,” Brink said.

The plan also calls for water quality results to be published, along with clear conditions for lifting restrictions, with independent verification.

The DA wants sewage pollution of the Bronkhorstspruit River stopped by repairing failing sewage pump stations and coordinating action on upstream failures with the Department of Water and Sanitation and Victor Khanye Municipality.

Investigation demanded

Brink said the failure must be investigated and accountability enforced, preserving records and establishing who knew chlorination had stopped, why treatment continued and why residents were not warned.

“This must include the information supplied to the Mayor’s office and the accuracy of her subsequent public statements,” he said.

DA councillors and activists distributed bottled water in Bronkhorstspruit on Sunday evening.

“Those who came out to collect expressed fear, and deep unhappiness with this water crisis,” Brink said.

He said access to clean and safe drinking water from an honest government was available at the ballot box on 4 November.

“Instead of a party that is so negligent to hide a water safety crisis, vote for a government that will put clean drinking water in your taps, and I commit that will come from a DA government,” he said.

Majodina said the city is appointing Rand Water to improve the treatment works and address components that are not working.

The Water Research Commission has been appointed to conduct independent water quality tests and an investigation into the causes of contaminated water. That report is expected by 28 October.

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