The Citizen reports that the Department of Health (DOH) has shot down reports that the water at its own Tshwane headquarters is contaminated.

It was reported on Sunday that staff at the Dr AB Xuma Building raised concerns about their tap water posing serious health risks after it appeared yellow. They also disputed the results of water testing that had been done. Sunday Independent reported that DOH officials had been notified “about the urgent need for action” at the building that houses the offices of Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, his deputy Dr Joe Phaahla, and director-general Dr Sandile Buthelezi. The Public Servants Association (PSA) had apparently also engaged with the DOH to “highlight its non-compliance” with national environmental health norms and standards requiring the provision of safe drinking water and appropriate signage to non-potable sources. In response, the DOH denied claims it had violated occupational health and safety. “The Department has for the past three years, diligently tested the quality of drinking water at Dr AB Xuma Building and the water passed the standard in line with South African National Standards for drinking water,” it said. For the current year, the water was tested at several points in the building on 8 July 2024 by a private laboratory, and on 12 July by the National Health Laboratory Services and the test results for both tests apparently complied with the standard. The PSA’s Reuben Maleka responded: ”The water remains yellow and members are really scared to drink the water. It is apparent that the landlord is the one who provided the report, not the department.”

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nicholas Zaal at The Citizen

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