Residents of Bronkhorstspruit, a town in the Tshwane Municipality, find themselves in an alarming predicament. They are forced to consume water that is not only discoloured but potentially unsafe.

Many are drawing stark comparisons to the ongoing water crisis in Hammanskraal, where similar issues have led to serious health concerns, including cholera outbreaks.

Residents are urging government officials to take immediate action, but the city has indicated that solutions may not be implemented until late next year.

Despite repeated discussions with City of Tshwane officials and local councillors, residents express frustration over the lack of adequate action since their concerns were first raised in 2011.

One concerned local stated, “The situation is deteriorating, and we're worried about the impact on our health. To make matters worse, our water bills have increased, forcing us to pay for water that's essentially mud and unusable.”

She said that she was spending a lot of money on buying fresh water, while still being expected to pay water bills for water that she cannot use to even wash her clothes.

According to reports, the water supply system in Bronkhorstspruit begins with the abstraction of raw water from the Bronkhorstspruit River, which is then sent to the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Works (BWTW) for purification.

However, according to the residents, the quality of the water has been consistently poor, and its distribution extends beyond Bronkhorstspruit to neighbouring areas, including Rethabiseng, Zithobeni, Thembisile Hani Municipality (Nkangala District), Ekangala, and Ekandustria.

In response to inquiries about water quality assessments, the Tshwane Municipality has stated that daily analysis is conducted at the treatment plant and that a team from the Central Laboratory in Rietvlei performs detailed evaluations. However, residents are skeptical of these assurances.

“The tender to refurbish the plant to cater for fluctuations in raw water quality is currently in the final stages of design,” a city spokesperson explained.

“We anticipate that the open tender to invite potential suppliers will be advertised, with actual construction expected to commence in the last quarter of 2026.”

This lengthy timeline has left residents feeling neglected and anxious about their health and safety

To address the deteriorating water quality, the municipality said it implemented measures such as shutting down the plant and dispatching water tankers to affected communities.

“The delivery of water is managed in conjunction with the councillors,” said city spokesperson Lindela Mashego, adding that the city is also working to clear sediments from the water distribution system.

However, concerns remain regarding the billing practices for residents charged for discoloured water.

The municipality acknowledged these issues but indicated that the tender to rectify billing inconsistencies would not be addressed until next year, meaning residents will continue to pay for water that poses health risks.

This situation in Bronkhorstspruit is part of a broader water crisis affecting several regions in South Africa. Areas such as Hammanskraal, Mpumalanga, and parts of the Eastern Cape have all faced similar challenges. Ageing infrastructure, inadequate maintenance, and pollution of our waterways have compromised water quality, leading to health threats for residents.

As the residents of Bronkhorstspruit wait for solutions that may be years away, their calls for immediate action have grown louder, with calls for the government to urgently ensure that their children have access to safe and clean water.

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'We're drinking mud' - Tshwane's water crisis leaves Bronkhorstspruit residents at risk