Contaminated water leaves 833 ill in South Africa
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on IOL
Water contamination in Bronkhorstspruit, near Pretoria, has raised the number of people suffering gastrointestinal illnesses in South Africa to 833. Three residents remain in hospital after insufficiently chlorinated water was distributed, while President Cyril Ramaphosa called the municipal failures unacceptable, according to IOL.
The number of people suffering gastrointestinal illnesses after water contamination in Bronkhorstspruit, east of Pretoria, has risen to 833, South Africa’s Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina announced on Monday. Three residents remain in hospital.
President Cyril Ramaphosa called the crisis unacceptable and accused the City of Tshwane of failures in water management. Cases were reported between 7 and 18 October and are linked to insufficiently chlorinated water from the Bronkhorstspruit treatment plant. The facility has been closed and affected residents are being supplied by water tankers.
Ramaphosa also said the government was preparing for the potential effects of the El Niño climate phenomenon, which could lead to drier conditions in parts of southern Africa. An interministerial committee has been created to coordinate the response and funds have been allocated for the preparations. The City of Tshwane had already announced an investigation after three weeks of supplying unchlorinated water; earlier warnings before the crisis had also been reported.
The new tally confirms the 833 cases already reported on 26 October in the article on the rise in illnesses in Bronkhorstspruit.
