PRETORIA, South Africa — More than 500 people have fallen ill with gastrointestinal symptoms in two South African cities amid concerns over contaminated water, prompting emergency water distribution and public health warnings.

In communities east of Pretoria, at least 408 people, including young children, reportedly became ill after consuming water supplied by a treatment plant serving several residential areas. Authorities have urged residents to stop using tap water for drinking, cooking, washing and bathing until it is declared safe.

Investigations found that the treatment plant’s water had not been chlorinated for approximately three weeks because the municipality experienced difficulties obtaining chlorine from its regular supplier. The facility draws water from the Bronkhorstspruit River, which is affected by sewage pollution linked to poorly functioning wastewater treatment plants upstream.

Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya said an initial investigation found that officials had failed to warn residents that the water supplied to affected communities had not been chlorinated. She stressed that residents should not use the water for drinking, cooking or personal hygiene, even after boiling it.

Emergency measures have been introduced, with municipal officials distributing water through tankers and the humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers providing bottled water. Most of those affected in the communities east of Pretoria were children under the age of four.

The incident has sparked political criticism, with several parties calling for Moya and other responsible officials to face consequences over the failure to alert residents to the water safety risks.

A separate outbreak has been reported in Gqeberha, in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, where at least 111 students at Rhodes University have received treatment for gastrointestinal illness in recent days. The university said the cause was still under investigation, although water quality was among the suspected factors.

University spokesperson Olwetu Gwanya said students with severe symptoms had been taken to hospital and subsequently returned to campus. Students and staff were advised to use boiled and cooled or bottled water, avoid ice and uncooked food prepared with untreated water, and maintain proper food hygiene and handwashing practices.

The two incidents have renewed concerns about water treatment, sewage infrastructure and public health safeguards in South Africa. Authorities continue to investigate the outbreaks and the circumstances surrounding the suspected contamination.

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