The Public Protector will investigate allegations of maladministration, improper conduct and prejudice against the City of Tshwane over the Bronkhorstspruit water crisis that has left more than 400 people ill.
The announcement on Friday comes after the office received complaints from Economic Freedom Fighters treasurer-general and MP Omphile Maotwe, and Freedom Front Plus regional leader Willie Spies.
A total of 408 cases of gastrointestinal illness were reported in the area after residents consumed contaminated water from the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Works.
Maotwe alleged the city failed to chlorinate water supplied to residents by the plant between 24 September and 14 October.
She said the city failed to warn residents the water was unsafe for consumption during this period, resulting in 408 people, most of them children under the age of four, falling ill.
Maotwe further alleged the city ran out of chlorine due to difficulties experienced with its chlorine supplier.
Oversight failures alleged
Spies called on the Public Protector to investigate alleged maladministration and improper conduct by the city, including the alleged failure to escalate critical information to senior management.
He also raised concerns about inadequate oversight at the water treatment plant and the failure to warn residents about the safety of the water.
Investigators from the Public Protector’s office visited the treatment plant to verify the allegations and establish what interim measures had been put in place to protect residents from unsafe water.
“The investigation team was informed that the plant had been decommissioned as an interim measure to facilitate the cleaning and disinfection of the entire water system,” the Public Protector said in a statement.
The team was also advised that water tankers would be deployed to supply water to the affected community.
City manager to respond
As an initial step, the Public Protector will approach the Tshwane city manager for a formal response to the allegations and further investigation.
The office said it would work with the Bronkhorstspruit community to monitor the implementation of the city’s interim water provision measures.
The investigation adds to mounting pressure on the city and mayor Nasiphi Moya over the crisis.
The Democratic Alliance filed a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission earlier this week and opened a criminal case at Pretoria Central Police Station.
Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina confirmed on Monday that contaminated water from the treatment works caused the illness outbreak.
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 on 14 October 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.
The city is deploying 36 water tankers to distribute drinking water to affected areas. Residents have been warned not to consume, bathe in, brush teeth with, cook or wash clothes with tap water.
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.
