Tshwane’s Bronkhorstspruit water crisis has sparked a war of words inside the city’s coalition government, with ActionSA hitting back at both the DA and the EFF over their handling of the fallout.
In a statement on 20 October, ActionSA Tshwane caucus spokesperson Henriette Frohlich accused the EFF of trying to play opposition while sitting in government.
Her criticism follows the EFF’s announcement that it will open a criminal case against Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya and the City Manager over the failure to chlorinate water from the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Plant and the delayed warning to residents about the health risks.
ActionSA said the EFF cannot claim distance from the crisis when it holds seats in the Mayoral Committee, including the environment and health portfolios.
The party said the City’s Chief Operations Officer has been tasked with investigating both the chlorination failure and the delay in alerting residents, and that consequences must follow if negligence or misconduct is established.
ActionSA also pointed to the history of investment in the plant, saying refurbishment has been in municipal capital budgets since at least 2022/23. About R20.8-million was spent in 2025/26, with a further R57-million approved for the current financial year and R30-million planned for 2027/28.
The DA has also piled pressure on the mayor. Its Tshwane mayoral candidate, Cilliers Brink, announced the party has lodged a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) against the City over possible violations of residents’ constitutional rights.
The DA has called for Moya’s resignation, opened its own criminal case, and submitted an eight-point action plan to the City Manager. The plan includes independent water testing, publication of water-quality results, and an investigation into why residents were not warned sooner.
Brink said Moya’s admission of “negligence” was sufficient grounds for her to leave office. The DA has cited more than 400 reported cases of illness, including in young children, although the link to the water crisis remains subject to investigation.
Municipal, provincial and national authorities have been involved in efforts to contain the crisis, including providing alternative drinking water to affected communities.
