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Hammanskraal: The South African town where water ‘smells like death’

By Leizl Eykelhof

Traditional Councillor Kaleb Swandle and teacher Hendrica Sekokotla examine the murky water flowing from the taps in Majaneng, Hammanskraal. Though the Department of Water and Sanitation has introduced a temporary treatment plant, residents say clean water has yet to reach them. Swandle is not convinced it will arrive anytime soon. Photo: Sulette Theron/ForAfrika

Despite existing infrastructure, many residents of Hammanskraal have gone more than ten years without reliable access to clean water. The cholera outbreak in 2023, which left more than 30 people dead, underscored the urgent need for a lasting solution.

For more than a decade, Hammanskraal, a township just north of Pretoria in South Africa, has struggled with a lack of reliable and safe drinking water. Even when water runs from the taps, it is often contaminated and undrinkable. When the taps are dry, residents are left to queue for hours at boreholes or scramble for water delivered by municipal trucks.

In June 2023, a cholera outbreak in the area resulted in more than 30 deaths and over 100 hospitalisations. The outbreak was a stark reminder that water access is not just a development issue, but a matter of life and death. Emily Hika’s brother was among them. “He was spitting blood,” she recalls. “He was in the hospital for a long time. He survived, but we will never forget.”

Many families were not so lucky.

“We have lost people to that water. My sister-in-law from the other side of Hammanskraal died of cholera. I have first-hand experience of what that water can do,” says Jebby Mashaba, a Hammanskraal resident. “It smells like death.”

Despite repeated warnings and clear evidence of contamination, progress toward a permanent solution has been slow.

”

“It smells like death.”

- Jebby Mashaba

Amandebelebalebolo Traditional Councillors and ForAfrika’s area supervisor, Ellen Kgati, meet with community members at the council offices in Majoneng, Hammanskraal, to discuss local water challenges. ForAfrika has partnered with the council to rehabilitate 15 boreholes, providing more reliable access to clean water. Photo: Sulette Theron/ForAfrika

Where the trouble flows from

The issue is not water scarcity, but rather water quality. Hammanskraal’s water flows from the Apies River, a vital water source in the region, which has been contaminated by sewage leaks from the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Plant upstream.

“The water is severely polluted,” says Dr Sean Phillips, Director-General of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS).

According to Phillips, the City of Tshwane acknowledged the problem over 10 years ago, warning residents not to drink the water. The Rooiwal Plant had not been properly maintained, and its treatment capacity was inadequate. As a result, untreated wastewater flowed into the Apies River, polluting Hammanskraal’s supply.

The dirty water of a polluted stream in Hammanskraal serves as a stark reminder of the community’s struggle for clean water. Contaminated sources like these make boreholes, municipal water tankers, and bottled water the only alternatives - though access remains limited for many. Photo: Sulette Theron/ForAfrika

In response, the South African government committed R750 million (approximately $40 million USD) to installing a portable water-treatment plant, aiming to restore clean water access by July 2025. While the first phase of the project has been completed, as of February 2025, full implementation is still underway. Although some areas are now receiving clean water, the full rollout is still ongoing, and not all communities have access yet.

Despite the progress, many residents remain sceptical.

“I will believe it when I see it,” says Kaleb Swandle, a local community leader from the Amandebelebalebolo Traditional Council and a lifelong resident of Majoneng.

”

“We haven’t had clean water for a long time. The water from the municipality is filthy, people can’t drink it.”

- fellow councillor, Nicholas Moketsi

“We survive on boreholes here,” says Moketsi, who is fortunate enough to have been able to install his own borehole at home in Suurman village.

For more than a decade, the people of Hammanskraal have struggled without reliable access to clean water. Many depend on boreholes, like these rehabilitated by ForAfrika last year, while others rely on intermittent municipal water tankers or must purchase bottled water - an added financial strain on households. Photo: Sulette Theron/ForAfrika

Communal boreholes and water trucks

As efforts to improve the water supply continue, the people of Hammanskraal have found ways to survive. Those who can afford it drill private boreholes. Others have to buy bottled water or rely on communal boreholes, though many have fallen into disrepair.

ForAfrika, in collaboration with its partners, has supported efforts to improve water access in Hammanskraal. Last year, 15 boreholes were rehabilitated and equipped with solar-powered pumps and 10,000-litre storage tanks, helping to provide a reliable water source for many in the community.

“The pump does not rest,” says local resident, Naisana Skhosana, who oversees one of the boreholes near her home. “Anyone can come and get water and people come from very far.”

A small fund – voluntary for those who can afford it – helps with maintenance. No one is denied water.

Yet even with these efforts, the demand is overwhelming. Alfred Baloyi, an elderly resident, cycles seven kilometres to fetch 20 litres of clean water. “This is for drinking,” he says, packing a variety of filled plastic bottles wearily into his basket. “We cannot drink the water that comes out of our taps. We don’t trust that water.”

A man waits under an umbrella at a borehole in Hammanskraal, seeking relief from the scorching sun as he queues for water. The boreholes, recently rehabilitated by ForAfrika, provide a trusted source of clean water, but demand remains high. Many residents travel long distances, often on foot or by bicycle, and wait for hours to fill their containers. Photo: Sulette Theron/ForAfrika

Healthcare and sanitation challenges

The cholera outbreak was not just an isolated event – it highlighted ongoing risks related to poor sanitation and waterborne diseases.

“Cholera is not endemic in South Africa,” says Professor Nicola Page from the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD). “But outbreaks happen when contaminated water enters communities with inadequate sanitation.”

She warns that beyond cholera, residents face risks from other waterborne diseases like Typhoid fever, E. coli infections, and Hepatitis A.

Even local healthcare facilities are affected. The Kekanastad Clinic does not have running water, forcing staff to fetch water in containers for essential hygiene.

A long road to restoring trust

The government’s investment in providing a temporary solution while upgrading the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Plant marks an important step toward addressing Hammanskraal’s water crisis.

While this progress is encouraging, many residents remain cautious. After years of struggling with unsafe water, rebuilding trust in the system will take time.

In the meantime, ForAfrika’s work in rehabilitating boreholes has provided a critical lifeline, but residents say more support is needed.

“We have to rely on ForAfrika and other non-profit organisations. We are praying that they do not leave; they must stay and help us please,” says Councillor Swandle.

”

“We are really grateful for the boreholes, but we need more.”

- Councillor Swandle

ForAfrika remains committed to working alongside government, local leaders, and communities to ensure that clean, safe water becomes a lasting reality for all of Hammanskraal.

Safe water should not be a privilege – it is a necessity, and one that the people of Hammanskraal have waited far too long for.

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