By Levy Masiteng
Polokwane Municipality Executive Mayor Makoro John Mpe has strongly dismissed allegations that contaminated municipal water caused the deaths of children in Seshego, saying there is no evidence linking recent illnesses to the town’s water supply.
Addressing the media in Seshego on Tuesday, Mpe stressed the municipality’s commitment to accountability and public health.
“We will not gamble with lives. We will not wait for crises to deepen before we act,” he said.
The briefing followed growing public concern after reports of gastroenteritis cases and claims of suspected cholera linked to water contamination.
Mpe said one borehole supplying parts of Seshego was found to have high turbidity levels. As a precautionary measure, the entire Seshego water system was shut down to allow for cleansing and flushing.
“The affected borehole has since been decommissioned, and we are planning to install a package treatment plant,” he said.
He also cited findings by the Limpopo Department of Health, which confirmed that no deaths of children were recorded and that water from the main municipal system was compliant with safety standards.
Mpe added that recent heavy rainfall contributed to temporary water quality challenges, prompting the shutdown of all boreholes feeding into the network.
Meanwhile, the Limpopo Department of Health issued a statement on Monday dismissing what it described as “misleading reports” alleging waterborne deaths in Seshego.
Department spokesperson Neil Shikwambana said Seshego Hospital and Polokwane Hospital were placed on high alert from Christmas Eve to monitor patients presenting with gastroenteritis symptoms, including diarrhoea and abdominal pain.
The department confirmed that 122 patients presented with gastroenteritis symptoms at Seshego Hospital in December 2025. Of these, 26 were admitted while 96 were treated and discharged.
“No deaths related to gastroenteritis were recorded in the Emergency Department,” Shikwambana said.
“Three deaths occurred in adult wards prior to 20 December 2025, but none were linked to waterborne diseases. There were no child deaths related to gastroenteritis recorded at either hospital.”
The department further confirmed that ten stool samples tested for pathogens commonly associated with waterborne diseases, including cholera-related organisms, all returned negative results.
Environmental health practitioners from the Capricorn District Municipality and the provincial Department of Health also found that water supplied from the main systems was compliant, with only temporary challenges linked to heavy rainfall.
“Monitoring has been intensified, including ongoing water sampling, daily chlorine level checks and strengthened water quality oversight,” Shikwambana said.
“We urge residents to remain calm, rely on verified information from official sources, maintain good hygiene and seek medical care if symptoms occur.”
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