Cape Town – The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has called for Tshwane Executive Mayor Nasiphi Moya to resign following a gastrointestinal illness outbreak that the party says left 408 people sick after water from the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Works went without chlorination for three weeks.
The party accused the City of Tshwane of failing to protect residents and provide timely warnings about the safety of their water supply.
In a statement, the EFF said the city’s failure to chlorinate the water between 24 September and 14 October exposed residents, particularly young children, to preventable health risks.
“The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) calls for the immediate resignation of City of Tshwane Executive Mayor, Dr Nasiphi Moya, for failing to provide residents with safe, reliable water,” the party said.
The EFF said most of those affected by the outbreak were children younger than four.
The party also accused the mayor of misleading residents by suggesting that the city had encountered a chlorine supply problem only over the preceding weekend. It said the Department of Water and Sanitation had found that the water went unchlorinated for three weeks.
The EFF’s Statement on the Water Crisis in the City of Tshwane
-The EFF is shocked that the City never warned residents the water was unsafe for drinking, cooking, washing, or bathing. For this, the EFF will lay criminal charges against the Mayor and City Manager under the National Water Act and Water Services Act, and lodge a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) over the violation of residents’ right to water.
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) October 20, 2026
EFF threatens legal action against Tshwane leadership
The EFF said it would lay criminal charges against Moya and the city manager under the National Water Act and Water Services Act.
It also plans to lodge a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission, arguing that residents’ right to water had been violated.
“The EFF is shocked that the City never warned residents the water was unsafe for drinking, cooking, washing, or bathing,” the statement said.
The party further called on the national government to declare a disaster and an outbreak, and to establish an intergovernmental task team to contain the situation.
More than 400 cases of gastrointestinal illnesses have been reported in the east of Pretoria, mostly affecting young children. Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya says officials at the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Works failed to report the chlorine problem to the City, and they failed to alert residents that the water had not been chlorinated. Tune in to #eNCA on #DStv403.
— eNCA (@eNCA) October 19, 2026
It said the mayor should be held accountable for what it described as failures in coordination and resourcing, arguing that municipal finances should prioritise essential services alongside payments to Eskom and Rand Water.
Party raises concerns over water supply and infrastructure
The EFF said the incident exposed deeper weaknesses in the city’s ability to provide essential services, arguing that municipalities should strengthen their capacity to produce and maintain critical water infrastructure and supplies.
The party also called for an investigation into officials allegedly linked to water tanker businesses, warning that the crisis could be exploited for financial gain.
It alleged that some councillors had spoken openly about the potential to profit from water tankers, although the statement did not provide further details or evidence to substantiate the claims.
The EFF urged residents to take precautions and seek medical attention if they developed symptoms of illness. It also called on the city to communicate regularly and honestly with communities about the water situation.
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Compiled by Glaan Sibuyi
