More than 100 Rhodes University students in Makhanda, Eastern Cape, have fallen ill with a gastrointestinal illness. The university, health authorities and water experts are working to find the source.
The university first reported 109 cases across 15 residences on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, and the number had risen to 111 by Wednesday. Cases have been reported since Sunday, and local doctors say similar illnesses are showing up in the wider Makhanda community. The cause has not yet been confirmed.
What We Know So Far
- Cases: 111 students, up from 109 on Tuesday
- Where: 15 campus residences at Rhodes University in Makhanda, formerly Grahamstown
- When: cases have been reported since Sunday, 18 October
- Cause: not yet confirmed
- Hospital: students with severe symptoms were taken to hospital and have since returned to campus
- Beyond campus: local medical practitioners are seeing similar cases elsewhere in Makhanda
“The cause has not yet been confirmed,” university spokesperson Olwetu Gwanya told Jacaranda FM.
The university says the affected students all eat and drink at campus dining halls. However, the illness has not been linked to any specific meal, water source or other factor.
How Rhodes University Is Responding
The university says it is “working closely with the relevant authorities”, including local public health officials, environmental health practitioners, the municipality and experts from Amatola Water. Measures so far include:
- urgent water-quality testing at residences, including random sampling of taps
- reviewing students’ meal histories to look for a common source
- safe drinking water in the Desmond Tutu, Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela and Kimberley dining halls
- bottled water for students
- extra precautions in food preparation
- medical support and oral rehydration solutions for affected students.
The outbreak comes as students prepare for end-of-year exams, adding stress to an already pressured time on campus. Rhodes houses about 3 500 students in its residences.
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Advice For Students And Makhanda Residents
The university has advised students, staff and residents to:
- drink boiled and cooled water, or bottled water
- use safe water for cooking and brushing teeth
- avoid ice and uncooked food washed in untreated water
- wash hands regularly with soap and water
- stay hydrated with safe fluids and get medical advice if they have diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach cramps or fever
- get urgent medical help for severe symptoms
- report any illness to their warden or sub-warden.
Rhodes University Contacts
- Rhodes University Health Care Centre: 046 603 8523 | [email protected]
- After-hours emergencies (RU ER24): 010 205 3068
Makhanda’s Water Challenges
Makhanda, in the Makana Local Municipality, has faced water and sanitation problems for years. These include ageing infrastructure, frequent pipe bursts and delayed maintenance. There is no confirmed link between these problems and the current illnesses. The investigation is still under way, and the university has stressed that the cause hasn’t been identified.
Meanwhile In Gauteng: The Bronkhorstspruit Outbreak
The Rhodes cases follow a separate, larger outbreak closer to home. Health authorities have not linked the two.
In Bronkhorstspruit, east of Pretoria in the City of Tshwane, 408 cases of gastrointestinal illness were reported between 7 and 18 October 2026. Most of those affected are children under four. Government says the illness was most likely caused by contaminated water from the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Works:
- Water from the plant was not chlorinated from 24 September to 14 October because of problems with the city’s chlorine supply.
- Department of Water and Sanitation tests found very high levels of E. coli and coliform bacteria at the plant and at the Zithobeni and Ekandustria reservoirs.
- The NICD found norovirus, Campylobacter and Shigella in stool samples. No cholera was detected.
- Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina said the City of Tshwane “failed to warn residents in the affected areas”.
Areas Affected In Tshwane
The affected areas are Bronkhorstspruit, Zithobeni, Dark City, Rethabiseng and Sokhulumi, in Region 7.
What Bronkhorstspruit Residents Should Do
- Don’t use tap water for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, bathing or washing clothes. Tap water should only be used to flush toilets.
- Throw away stored tap water, and disinfect containers with household bleach.
- Use water from the municipal tankers. Thirty-six tankers are delivering water. Store it in clean, covered containers.
- Get medical help early for diarrhoea or vomiting, especially in young children.
Rand Water is being brought in to fix the treatment works, and the Water Research Commission is expected to report on its investigation by 28 October. No date has been set for when tap water will be safe to drink again.
Signs Of Dehydration To Watch For
Gastrointestinal illnesses can quickly cause dehydration, especially in young children and older people. Seek medical care if you notice:
- very little or no urine, or dark urine
- a dry mouth, lips and tongue
- dizziness, extreme tiredness or confusion
- sunken eyes, or a sunken soft spot on a baby’s head
- no tears when crying, in young children
- diarrhoea or vomiting that won’t stop, or blood in the stool.
Oral rehydration solution can help with mild dehydration. You can make it at home by mixing one litre of safe water with six level teaspoons of sugar and half a level teaspoon of salt. Severe cases need urgent medical care.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Rhodes University Students Are Sick?
By Wednesday, 21 October 2026, 111 students had been affected. That’s up from 109 across 15 residences on Tuesday.
What Caused The Illness At Rhodes University?
The cause has not yet been confirmed. The university is testing water quality and reviewing students’ meal histories with health authorities, environmental health practitioners and Amatola Water.
Is The Rhodes University Outbreak Linked To Bronkhorstspruit?
No link has been made. The two outbreaks are in different provinces, and health authorities are investigating them separately.
What Should Rhodes Students Do If They Feel Ill?
Stay hydrated with safe fluids, contact the Rhodes University Health Care Centre on 046 603 8523 and tell your warden or sub-warden. For after-hours emergencies, call RU ER24 on 010 205 3068.
Is Bronkhorstspruit Tap Water Safe To Drink?
No. Residents served by the Bronkhorstspruit water system have been told not to use tap water for anything except flushing toilets until authorities say it’s safe.
