South Africa Warns Residents Near Pretoria Against Drinking Tap Water After 408 Fall Ill

Authorities in South Africa have warned residents in communities near Pretoria not to drink or cook with tap water after 408 people reportedly fell ill following exposure to contaminated water.

The cases were recorded in Tshwane, which includes Pretoria, between October 7 and 18. Most of those affected were children under the age of four, with symptoms including stomach cramps and diarrhoea. No deaths have been reported.

Tests Detect Harmful Pathogens

South Africa’s departments of water and health said laboratory tests detected high levels of E. coli, alongside norovirus, campylobacter, shigella and other pathogens linked to gastrointestinal illness.

Initial investigations indicated that residents had been exposed to contaminated water supplied by a local treatment facility serving several communities east of Pretoria.

Officials also found that local authorities had failed to alert residents about the water contamination during the early stages of the outbreak.

Residents Told to Avoid Tap Water

The affected water supply has been declared unfit for human consumption. Residents have been instructed to use the water only for flushing toilets while water tankers provide clean drinking water.

Authorities also advised residents to discard previously stored water and disinfect water containers with household bleach, following appropriate safety instructions.

Area Has History of Waterborne Outbreaks

The latest incident has renewed concerns over water safety in the Tshwane region, which has experienced previous outbreaks of waterborne diseases.

In 2023, a cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal, near Pretoria, killed 29 people and was linked to inadequate water purification practices. In 2025, officials confirmed 48 typhoid cases in the same area, although the source remained unclear.

Authorities said no cholera bacteria had been detected in the latest cases. Investigations into the contaminated water supply are ongoing.

BBC News