About four hundred and eight (408) cases of Gastrointestinal were confirmed in Bronkhorspruit.
Speaking at a media briefing on Monday, Pemmy Majodina, Minister of Water and Sanitation, said a chunk of infected patients, are minors under the age of four (4) years old.
Majodina said concern escalated with rising cases recorded at the Bronkhorstspruit Hospital and surrounding clinics, since the 13th of October.
She said most affected people are from Zithobeni, Bronkhorspruit, Dark City, and Sikhulumi.
They are all supplied with water from the Bronkhorspruit treatment works.
Although authorities are conducting more tests, pathogens and contaminants were found, from source to sink.
She also said findings point to lack of a Chlorine supplier.
David Mahlobo, the Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, pointed out that both rivers upstream the (Wonderboom and Bronkhorspruit system) are equally polluted.
He said the pollution is exacerbated by the lack of proper sanitation from informal settlements there, as well as sceptic tanks.
Rand Water was tasked to assess the system from the rivers, isolate the plant while assessments continue.
Nasiphi Moya, Mayor of Tshwane, said “we could not speak with authority because water tests had not been conducted.”
She did not deny that there was no chlorine supplier.
She said the supplier increased prices and as a result, negotiations fell through the cracks.
The Department is working with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) and the Water Research Commission (WRC), to support efforts by an intergovernmental task team.
The team is made up of Pemmy Majodina, Minister of Water and Sanitation, Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister of Health, Panyaza Lesufi, Gauteng Premier and Dr Nasiphi Moya, Mayor of Tshwane.
Picture: Supplied