The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and the Eastern Cape Provincial Government have initiated an investigation following reports of several gastrointestinal illness cases in Makana Local Municipality and in the Saint Albans Prison in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality (NMBM).

On 20 October 2026, the Department of Water and Sanitation received a media alert of gastrointestinal illnesses reported by Rhodes University. The Eastern Cape Provincial Department of Health and DWS regional offices response team was activated based on the reported cases at Rhodes University.

A total of 111 cases were reported at Rhodes University’s student residences. Further reports were received for 23 cases from Saint Albans Prison in NMBM. All patients were reported to have shown symptoms such as severe abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, vomiting and dehydration, and have been treated at various health care facilities in the two municipalities.

A multi-stakeholder technical team was established including DWS, Provincial Departments of Health and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Sarah Baartman District Municipality, Makana Local Municipality, NMBM, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), Amatola Water and Rhodes University to investigate the sources of the infections and contain the spread of the illness.

An intergovernmental meeting was called yesterday evening, Wednesday, 22 October 2026, led by Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy Majodina and Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane as well as Makana and Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayors, Cllrs Yandiswa Vara and Babalwa Lobishe to receive an update from the technical team on the coordinated response. The meeting received reports from the technical team covering information on the number and location of gastrointestinal illness cases, the samples taken by the NICD and water quality tests conducted by the DWS as well as additional urgent measures being implemented to protect communities.

The technical team reported that samples have been collected at various water sources including at the university’s internal storage and distribution system, the municipal distribution network and the water treatment works in Makana. At Saint Albans Prison, water samples were taken from the elevated tower storage where the prison receives water from the NMDM potable water supply system to identify possible contaminants.

Preliminary findings indicate that the spread is currently concentrated within the university and the Saint Albans Prison. Initial test results indicate that the contamination is within the university’s water distribution system and within the prison’s water distribution system, and not within the municipal water distribution systems. Laboratory test results of all the samples taken are still pending and will be communicated as soon as they become available.

Government encourages residents who develop symptoms of illness to seek medical attention early and report suspected cases to their nearest healthcare facility or local health authority. Early reporting protects not only individuals and families but also enables health authorities to respond quickly and prevent further spread. Communities are further encouraged to at all times employ hygiene practices such as washing hands after toilet use and before handling of food.