Tuesday, 20 October 2026

At least 109 gastrointestinal illness cases have hit Rhodes University campus, and the university is urgently testing water quality in residences. Parkhurst residents were also told not to drink tap water after brown water reports.

Outa says the new 2026 water and sanitation strategy lacks firm deadlines, accountability and consequences, and it shifts Sustainable Development Goal water targets from 2030 to 2035.

Outa links more than 400 children's bacterial infections in Bronkhorstspruit to missing chlorination after poor procurement, and says Tshwane stopped dosing chlorine during a contractor price dispute.

Johannesburg has 940,000 households needing basic services but delivers to only 140,000, despite Treasury funding for one million, worth R7.2 billion a year, Outa says.

Cosatu is calling on Treasury to announce R10 billion in fuel levy relief in tomorrow's medium-term budget policy statement, and to raise the R370 SRD grant.