TAP water in Polokwane and surrounding areas has a strange smell, leaving residents fearing for their health since last week.

Municipality spokesman Simon Mokoatedi said the problem was "not that of the municipality".

Though Lepelle Northern Water, which supplies water to municipalities, said the odour "does not signify a health problem", residents have resorted to buying bottled water.

Some residents also claimed to be suffering stomach pains after drinking the water.

LNW spokesman Simon Mpamonyane said the problem was at the Olifantspoort plant that supplies water.

But Mpamonyane said an investigation had been launched to determine the source of the smell and "we have increased the frequency of sampling and testing of the water".