South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile will on Monday visit a Gauteng community where 408 people fell ill earlier this month after consuming water suspected to have been contaminated.
Mashatile is expected in Bronkhorstspruit, east of Pretoria, to assess the government’s response to the outbreak of gastrointestinal illness that has been linked to water supplied from the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Works.
The government said in a statement that Mashatile, who chairs the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Water and Sanitation, is expected to inspect the treatment facility, receive updates on the state of the infrastructure and meet officials overseeing efforts to restore safe and reliable water supplies to affected residents.
He is also due to visit patients hospitalised during the outbreak and receive briefings on the healthcare response.
The incident has raised concerns about water quality management and the condition of municipal water infrastructure in a country where several municipalities have struggled with ageing systems, inadequate maintenance and service delivery challenges.
According to government figures, about 408 cases of gastrointestinal illness were reported in the Bronkhorstspruit area after residents consumed water suspected to have been contaminated.
While investigations into the exact source of the contamination have continued, authorities have linked the outbreak to water supplied through the local treatment works.
The City of Tshwane has led response efforts, including testing water quality, assessing treatment infrastructure and implementing measures aimed at protecting public health and restoring confidence in the municipal water supply.
Mashatile’s visit is expected to focus on measures being taken to improve water quality, strengthen oversight and ensure access to safe drinking water for affected communities.
JN/APA