Tshwane Executive Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya has rejected claims by former mayor Cilliers Brink regarding the ongoing water crisis in Bronkhorstspruit, including assertions of a cholera outbreak and excessive expenditure on water tankers.
No cholera outbreak confirmed
Moya said cholera has not been identified as the cause of the gastrointestinal illness affecting the area. Although a variant of Vibrio cholerae was found in water samples, technical information shows it is not the strain associated with epidemic cholera. No cholera bacteria have been detected in patient stool samples tested to date.
Moya criticised Brink for amplifying public fears without adequately explaining the scientific findings. She noted that during the 2023 Hammanskraal cholera outbreak, when he served as Executive Mayor, Brink himself had cautioned against premature conclusions and stressed the need for proper scientific investigation.
Increased funding for water infrastructure
On infrastructure spending, Moya rejected suggestions that the current administration has neglected the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Works. She said funding for the plant's refurbishment has increased substantially under the present leadership, with more than R107 million spent or allocated between the 2025/26 and 2027/28 financial years.
Water tanker expenditure clarified
She also dismissed Brink's repeated claim that the City spent R777 million on water tankers in the 2024/25 financial year. According to Moya, the actual expenditure for services delivered was approximately R441 million after accounting for cancelled, duplicated and unprocessed transactions. An additional R180 million in unpaid invoices from the previous administration also had to be settled in the following year.
Reducing reliance on tankers
Moya said the City is taking steps to reduce its reliance on outsourced water tankers by commissioning additional municipal vehicles and redirecting resources towards permanent infrastructure. She pointed out that Democratic Alliance Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation Jack Bloom has repeatedly called for more tankers to be deployed to ensure residents have access to safe drinking water.
Call for accurate information
“The people of Bronkhorstspruit deserve accurate information and practical solutions, not political campaigning,” Moya said.
She emphasised that the City of Tshwane will continue working with national and provincial government, the Department of Water and Sanitation, and independent technical experts to address the situation.