The City of Tshwane said it has noted recent reports of an increase in laboratory confirmed typhoid cases, in Bronkhorstspruit and Hammanskraal. According to the municipality, preliminary results of recent drinking water samples taken and tested have not determined an epidemiological link between these cases. Furthermore, the results have not yet determined the source of the contamination.
“The city takes these reports seriously and will intensify its investigations, working closely with the Department of Health, the Department of Water and Sanitation and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases to ascertain the root cause of the increase in these cases. Routine water quality tests of drinking water continue to be conducted across the City’s network, and no detection of Salmonella Typhi has been recorded to date,” said the city spokesperson, Lindela Mashigo.
He sought to assure residents that the city maintains stringent monitoring and testing protocols to ensure that all treated water supplied to residents complies with the South African National Standard for drinking water. Meanwhile, Mashigo has urged residents use only the water provided by the municipality as a precautionary measure.
“The city would like to appeal to communities to refrain from using untreated river or borehole water for domestic purposes, as a precautionary measure. Only piped municipal water that has been properly treated and tested should be used for drinking and cooking,” appealed the spokesperson.
