Overview
- Inspections by the Tshwane municipality found E. coli contamination in the municipal water supply to the Masakhane Cook Freeze Factory.
- The provincially run facility, which supplied about 8,000 plated meals daily to six hospitals and 17 community health centres, remains temporarily closed.
- Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital reported lunch shortages, with patients receiving basic sandwiches as families brought additional food.
- The Health Department plans factory cleaning, installation of a new water purification system, and staff food-safety training, but has not provided a timeline to resume operations.
- The Democratic Alliance criticised the province for weak contingency planning as officials maintain alternative meals are being provided and say no illnesses have been reported.