Quick cash with fake water purification business

Recently the Tzaneen police arrested two Ethopian nationals for running a fake water purification business, at a rented premises in the industrial area. The two foreign nationals are accused of packaging tap water into bottles and sealing it, before distributing it to shops under the name Super Natural Still Water. Maria Barkley, owner of Oasis Water, says cases like these are not unusual, there has been a number of instances where people run fly-by-night water businesses for quick cash.

Also read: Fake water purification businesses seem to be an easy way to make quick money.

She says the most concerning thing is the fact that running a fake water business, can have a serious health impact for customers. “People must always check if the top of the bottle is sealed. “The label must have best, and before dates, contact details and also where the water is produced,” she said. Barkley says there are certain hygienic procedures that have to be followed when dealing with water, employees have to wear aprons and gloves as a standard, so that they don’t contaminate the bottles.

She believes that the Department of Health needs to do more to check if businesses are following the right procedures. “We check our water daily and we do monthly tests at a laboratory,” she added. Tzaneen police spokesperson, Sgt Maurice Nkhwashu said the two foreign nationals were given a fine by the Tzaneen Magistrate’s Court.