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WATER POLLUTION

River clean-ups alone won’t fix South Africa's water crisis, says Deputy Minister Jack Bloom

Deputy Water and Sanitation Minister Jack Bloom states that community clean-up campaigns only address the symptoms of South Africa's river pollution. He emphasizes that lasting…

  • Sheree Bega
4 min read
Dr Devi Bühler, senior researcher at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) and project lead, introduces the Low-Tech Water Project
WATER MANAGEMENT

Can wastewater reuse help solve SA’s water crisis?

A pilot project in Benoni is testing a low-tech approach to water recycling, aiming to ease pressure on South Africa's strained water infrastructure. This collaboration between…

  • Sheree Bega
6 min read
Falling apart: The AG report has raised concerns about the municipality’s ability to continue operating as its debt spiral deepens and service delivery stalls. Photo: Lunga Mzangwe
AUDITOR GENERAL SOUTH AFRICA

Mathjabeng in financial freefall

The Free State municipality is facing severe fiscal distress, with liabilities exceeding R5.8bn and a R871.6 million deficit, says Auditor General Tsakani Maluleke

  • Lunga Mzangwe
8 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
Building materials lie exposed and no workers have been seen for months at the R300-million Polokwane Regional Wastewater Treatment Works project. Photos: Judas Sekwela
BLOOD RIVER

Sewage in the rivers as Polokwane water treatment project stalls

Polluted water is flowing into the Blood and Sand rivers

  • Judas Sekwela
2 min read
Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina has approved a temporary increase in water abstraction by Rand Water to stabilise Gauteng’s strained municipal water systems (DWS/X)
ETHEKWINI WATER SUPPLY

There is no water crisis, says Pemmy Majodina, just use it wisely

The minister’s statements come a day after the constitutional court said it was working remotely because of unreliable water supply

  • Des Erasmus
6 min read
In many regions, human–water systems are already in a post-crisis state of failure. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy
CAN YOU DRINK TREATED SEWAGE WATER

South Africans must embrace drinking treated sewage water or risk severe shortages

Failing infrastructure and increased demand means Gauteng residents may soon have to rely on treated sewage to quench their thirst

  • Sheree Bega
8 min read
Unprocessed sewage that is sent to farmers to irrigate their crops with that has caused contamination at Rooiwal wastewater treatment works. Photos: Delwyn Verasamy
AGRICULTURE

‘Criminal’ that Rooiwal’s upgrade comes at the cost of lives

Farmers in the Apies River area decry the damage pollution from the defective wastewater treatment plant has done to their farms and livelihoods

  • Sheree Bega
7 min read
A scene showing the rich life on the reef below the kelp canopy in False Bay
ANTIBIOTICS

Voltaren found in False Bay wastewater treatment water

Study reveals how high concentrations of pharmaceutical products are ending up in False Bay’s marine environment

  • Sheree Bega
5 min read
Everyone in South Africa lives downstream from a sewage discharge point into their drinking water supply, which is why the Blue and Green Drop reports are so important. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
ANTHONY TURTON

Why we need the Blue and Green Drop reports: ‘Everyone in SA lives downstream from a sewage discharge point’

The last reports were in 2014 but were stopped probably because the results were too shocking to be publicised, water experts say

  • Sheree Bega
5 min read