In a landmark ruling, the Emalahleni local municipality was ordered to fund major repairs after pleading guilty to persistent sewage pollution that contaminated rivers feeding the Olifants system
More than 70% of the country’s neglected or aged wastewater treatment plants are not operating at optimal levels
This was achieved through a partnership involving the Vaal community, Rand Water, Rhodes University’s Centre for Biological Control, the water and sanitation department and the department of forestry, fisheries and the environment
Municipalities have a history of defying adverse orders. Activists are trying to lay criminal charges against errant officials to end the impunity
About seven billion litres of sewage are released every day into rivers and dams
Sewage pollution has harrowing consequences for human health, such as waterborne pathogens like cholera, salmonella, typhoid and hepatitis
The pollution is making residents sick and contaminating rivers and groundwater resources in the Cradle of Humankind
Senzo Mchunu must provide an affidavit in 45 court days stating what has been done to deal with the problem
Zandspruit pump is a mess, says Joburg resident, citing load-shedding, lack of maintenance, high effluent volumes and poor infrastructure
Umsobomvu municipality pleads guilty, admits to receiving complaints from as far back as 2017
Heavy rain and pollution has led to the aquatic weed increasing its coverage to about 50% of the dam
‘We are living in the danger zone’
Criminal charges have been filed against the municipal managers of a number of towns for polluting the Vaal and Orange rivers
Tiny bugs – water hyacinth planthoppers – have reduced the coverage of an invasive superweed to below 5%
Raw water sources have high levels of E.Coli and coliform bacteria, posing serious health risks
The Vaal River intervention project has shown some progress but most of the treatment plants are still not working
Foul water runs out of Hammanskraal’s taps and farmers can’t grow crops because the City of Tshwane’s Rooiwal wastewater treatment plant contaminates the soil and groundwater
Commission’s long-awaited report into Vaal sewage crisis finds widespread non-compliance by the government