The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has called for the immediate arrest of Tshwane Executive Mayor Nasiphi Moya, accusing her of failing to act on repeated warnings that the city's water was unsafe, resulting in hundreds of residents falling ill.

In a statement released on Saturday,the EFF said damning revelations that Moya knew of the risks and still did nothing “vindicate” the party. The EFF had previously opened a criminal case against the mayor on prima facie evidence. The latest information, it said, “goes far beyond that and warrants her immediate arrest.”

Department issued non-compliance notice months ago

According to the party, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) informed Parliament on 23 October 2026 that it had issued the City of Tshwane with a non-compliance notice regarding the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Works in February 2026.

In March, the City submitted its own corrective plan. The plan was meant to secure treatment chemicals, refurbish filters, install pumps and recruit critical staff. The EFF says the City failed to implement it.

Chlorine stopped, illness followed

Chlorine was last dosed at the plant on 23 September 2026. Water continued to flow for a further 21 days without disinfection. In the period since, 595 people have fallen ill, including 262 children aged four and under.

Warnings came from within the Mayor's own executive

The warnings did not come only from the DWS. The City's own Member of the Mayoral Committee for Health, Councillor Tshegofatso Mashabela, raised the alarm earlier. “The danger was flagged from within the Mayor's own executive, and still she did nothing while children drank untreated water,” the EFF said.

Calls for investigations and resignation

The party welcomed the Public Protector and the South African Human Rights Commission's immediate responses to its complaints. It demanded that both institutions conduct full and comprehensive investigations into who knew what, when they knew it, and why nothing was done. The EFF reiterated its call for Nasiphi Moya to resign.

SAPS must act without political interference

The EFF further demanded that the South African Police Service act on its case “without fear, favour or political interference.”Any delay, the party warned, would be seen as protecting the politically connected at the expense of residents' lives.

“People in this country are arrested for irregular expenditure. If the misuse of public money warrants arrest, then recklessly endangering the lives of hundreds of people, most of them children, demands nothing less. Those responsible must be arrested now,” the statement read.

Further demands

Additional demands include the precautionary suspension of the City Manager, medical care and fair compensation for every affected family, and an independent forensic investigation into the City's failure to procure chlorine and maintain its plants.

“Clean water is a constitutional right, not a political favour. No political office can be a shield against the law,” the EFF concluded.