‘Children hardest hit by waterborne illness outbreak in Tshwane’

Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi says children are bearing the brunt of the waterborne illness outbreak in Tshwane . He was briefing Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health after more than 500 people fell ill after the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Works plant stopped treating water with chlorine and failed to inform residents. Tshwane Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya suspended the plant manager on Friday as investigations continue. Motsoaledi says the pattern of infections, affecting people from as young as one month to 60 years, points to water rather than food as the source. “We concluded that it is a waterborne problem. It’s not from food; it’s from water. The simple reason being that the age range of the people affected is a one-month-old baby to 60-year-old adults. Those people don’t share any form of food together. It’s only water that we know that they share. Children have been affected more than adults.” Water Crisis | Bronkhorstspruit residents get water from Cullinan following temporary shutdown: