PRETORIA - The South African Human Rights Commission is demanding that the City of Tshwane urgently fix the water contamination crisis.
More than 430 people, most of them children, have been hospitalised in Bronkhorstspruit, Ekangala and Rethabiseng.
The Commission said concerns about the area's water treatment works were raised months ago, but the crisis remains unresolved.
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It’s now calling for immediate intervention, safe alternative water supplies and transparent communication with affected communities.
Meanwhile, the Department of Water and Sanitation has opened a criminal case against the City of Tshwane after residents of Bronkhorstspruit were supplied with potentially contaminated water.
The municipality allegedly failed to chlorinate the water for about three weeks, despite it being sourced from an area affected by sewage pollution.
Residents were also not adequately warned of the potential health risks.