Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian

Sewage Pollution

latest news & developments
The findings of the Green Drop 2025 report, released alongside the latest Blue Drop and No Drop progress assessments, highlight mounting strain across the country’s water sector. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy
BLUE DROP

SA is moving backwards with water, says WaterCAN

The latest Green Drop report shows how the country’s rivers are being “turned into sewage channels”

  • Sheree Bega
3 min read
The Blue, Green and No Drop certification programmes are the department’s regulatory mechanisms to improve municipal drinking water quality, wastewater management, water conservation and demand management.
BLUE DROP REPORT

SA’s water crisis deepens: Nearly half of wastewater systems critical

The latest Green, Blue and No Drop reports show widespread deterioration of water and sanitation infrastructure. Nearly half of wastewater systems are critical, drinking water…

  • Sheree Bega
8 min read
Foul: Pigs root in sludge in Emfuleni municipality. (Photo: Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
CITIZEN SCIENCE

Unsafe water found in taps, water storage tanks across South Africa, citizen tests reveal

Scientists tested South Africa’s water. What they found was alarming: E. coli, sewage pollution and unsafe drinking water reaching directly into homes

  • Sheree Bega
5 min read
Wastewater: An overflowing drain flowing in a town in Mpumalanga. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy
BLUE SCORPIONS

Mpumalanga municipality slapped with record R650m penalty for years of raw sewage spills

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…

  • Sheree Bega
6 min read
More than 50 000 litres of sewage spews into South Africa’s rivers every second, the result of a failure to maintain infrastructure and outdated wastewater treatment plants that are unable to handle current volumes. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
CAPE TOWN SEWAGE TREATMENT

Wastewater plants dump 50 000 litres of sewage into SA rivers every second

More than 70% of the country’s neglected or aged wastewater treatment plants are not operating at optimal levels

  • Sheree Bega
9 min read
A flotilla of hundreds of boats sailed effortlessly on the Vaal River at the weekend, without being hindered by invasive water lettuce and water hyacinth
ANTI POLLUTION FORUM

Invasive weeds cleared from Vaal River through community-government collaboration

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…

  • Sheree Bega
7 min read
Water shortages has raised the ire of many community members and led to protests. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
ARTICLE

Courts, criminal charges not an easy fix for water crisis

Municipalities have a history of defying adverse orders. Activists are trying to lay criminal charges against errant officials to end the impunity

  • Emsie Ferreira
4 min read
About seven billion litres of sewage are released every day into rivers and dams. (Andy Mkosi)
SYLVESTER MPANDELI

SA’s rivers and dams can no longer recover from pollution, say water scientists

About seven billion litres of sewage are released every day into rivers and dams This content is restricted to registered users and subscribers. Get Your Free Account The Mail &…

  • Sheree Bega
1 min read
CRADLE OF HUMANKIND

Our water crisis is a tinderbox

Sewage pollution has harrowing consequences for human health, such as waterborne pathogens like cholera, salmonella, typhoid and hepatitis

  • Editorial
2 min read
The Munsieville pump station, which should separate solid waste from liquids, has not worked for years, leading to raw sewage flowing through the township. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy
CONTAMINATION

Sewage swamp: Mogale City can’t get its shit together

The pollution is making residents sick and contaminating rivers and groundwater resources in the Cradle of Humankind

  • Sheree Bega
11 min read
Suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu
BARBARA CREECY

NGO wins court order against ministers to stop Vaal River sewage pollution

Senzo Mchunu must provide an affidavit in 45 court days stating what has been done to deal with the problem

  • Sheree Bega
6 min read
File photo by Delwyn Verasamy)
ANTHONY TURTON

‘Gargantuan’ amount of sewage flowing from Joburg pump station

Zandspruit pump is a mess, says Joburg resident, citing load-shedding, lack of maintenance, high effluent volumes and poor infrastructure

  • Sheree Bega
7 min read
Political interference, corruption, skills shortages, supply chain inefficiencies and red tape are among the causes of the eThekwini municipality’s water and sanitation woes that have led to a breakdown of the water treatment infrastructure. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
COLESBERG REGIONAL COURT

Northern Cape municipality slapped with R10m fine for sewage pollution

Umsobomvu municipality pleads guilty, admits to receiving complaints from as far back as 2017

  • Sheree Bega
6 min read
Water hyacinth, native to South America, is described as the world’s worst aquatic weed. It thrives in nutrient-enriched waters like Hartbeespoort Dam, forming dense impenetrable mats that affect boating, fishing and water sport activities, harms aquatic biodiversity. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
CENTRE FOR BIOLOGICAL CONTROL

Invasive water hyacinth explodes on Hartbeespoort Dam

Heavy rain and pollution has led to the aquatic weed increasing its coverage to about 50% of the dam

  • Sheree Bega
6 min read
Foul-up: Sinkholes swallow roads in Khutsong. Photos: Delwyn Verasamy
FAR WEST RAND

Khutsong residents ‘living in a danger zone’ amid sinkholes and sewage

‘We are living in the danger zone’

  • Sheree Bega
7 min read