EFF Files Criminal Charges Over Tshwane Water Crisis

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) announced criminal charges against Tshwane Executive Mayor Nasiphi Moya and the city manager on October 20, 2026, following a water contamination crisis in Bronkhorstspruit. The party alleges the city failed to chlorinate water from September 24 to October 14, leading to a gastrointestinal illness outbreak that affected more than 430 residents, primarily children under four.

Laboratory tests by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases identified Norovirus, Campylobacter, Shigella, and high levels of E. coli in the system. While Democratic Alliance candidate Cilliers Brink claimed cholera was the cause, Mayor Moya denied this, stating only a non-pathogenic variant of Vibrio cholerae was found. Moya admitted municipal negligence and warned residents that tap water must only be used for flushing toilets.

President Cyril Ramaphosa apologized for the crisis and announced that the national government has intervened through the National Water Crisis Committee. The City of Tshwane closed the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Works on October 14 to restore chlorine dosing and is currently working with Rand Water to rehabilitate the plant. In the interim, the city is supplying water via tankers from the Cullinan plant, though the EFF has called for an investigation into alleged water tanker mafias.