A WhatsApp message doing its rounds has claimed that a Newcastle councillor instructed residents to avoid drinking tap water due to sewage contamination.
According to the message, sent around this past weekend, Newcastle Municipality’s Councillor Bertie Meiring stated that while Municipal staff were working on a burst pipe that the water system was contaminated due to a sewage leak.
While the message explained that the Newcastle Municipality was working on the problem, it urged residents to avoid using tap water, encouraging Newcastillians instead either boil or buy water.

With Newcastle residents contending with sewage leaks and burst pipes for several years, the message was taken seriously by many.
However, the viral message has been confirmed to be fake. According to Cllr Meiring, the message was not shared by him at all, with no such incident taking place. The councillor further confirmed that steps were being taken to locate the origin of the message.
“I always try to update our residents and fake messages won’t help at all,” he stressed.
With the message spreading misinformation, Newcastillians are urged to confirm the authenticity of all messages they receive before sharing them.
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