Warning about water in South Africa
South Africa faces growing risks as government failures have led to wastewater contamination of its freshwater sources.
Numerous Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTWs) are collapsing, causing an ecological disaster in the surrounding areas.
Water expert and environmental advisor Dr Anthony Turton told BusinessTech, “The simple truth is that WWTWs are slowly rendering the country’s drinking water unusable.”
“Without sounding dramatic, South Africa is slowly committing ecocide – national suicide by poisoning its own drinking and crop production water,” said Turton.
BusinessTech travelled to the province with some of the poorest performing WWTWs in the country, the North West, to see some of the issues first-hand.
Across towns
Across towns, consistent concerns were raised about un/under-operational WWTWs spilling unprocessed sewage into freshwater sources.
Turton explained that although this is a national problem, the North West is more arid when compared to provinces like KwaZulu Natal, adding an additional stressor to an already distressed system.
Aridity means that more water is lost to evaporation than falls as rainfall, which causes contaminants in the rivers to be concentrated as water evaporates, leaving the pollution behind.
Looking at some of the major contributors to the pollution, according to the Department of Water and Sanitation’s (DWS’) 2023 Green Drop Watch Report, the North West has 48 wastewater systems.
The report, an assessment of the state of wastewater management in South Africa, identified 33 (69%) of these North West systems to be in a “critical space,” up from the 21 systems in 2013.
In Zeerust, in the Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District, the smell of raw sewage is common due to failing wastewater treatment plants.
The district has a 97.4% Cumulative Risk Rating, with 12 out of 13 WWTWs in critical condition.
The DWS told BusinessTech that it had issued the pre-directive and directive compelling Ramotshere Moiloa to cease, modify or control any act or process causing pollution and to put measures in place to stop pollution of water resources of which the municipality failed to comply.
The Department had opened a criminal case against the WSA in February 2024, and it is still under investigation.
A river that people used to swim now beyond polluted with effluent. Photo: Seth Thorne
An effluent-polluted river runs along the side of a school. Photo: Seth Thorne
A ‘bridge’ for school children to cross the polluted river in Zeerust. Photo: Seth Thorne
BusinessTech visits Ditsobotla
BusinessTech visited Ditsobotla, also located within the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality, where over 92% of WWTWs are in a critical state.
In Ditsobotla, for some years now, raw sewage has been seeping into the Harts River, which flows into the Vaal River, and polluting the water that supplies neighbouring towns.
Despite hundreds of millions in investment, visible sewage, runoffs and ongoing odours significantly harm residents and businesses, especially agricultural ones in these farming districts.
Farmers, in particular, raised their concerns about their futures, given the impact on irrigation and their livestock drinking from water sources.
Turton highlighted the risks of using contaminated water for agriculture. It increases soil salinity, poses health risks to consumers, leads to potential rejection of produce, and can harm livestock due to pathogenic contamination.
The Blydeville community in Lichtenburg have said that the site of running sewage in the streets is a common feature of their day-to-day living.
In Itekeng, one of the townships in the Ngaka Modiri Molema municipality, raw sewage dumps have been recorded mere meters away from the one communal tap used by over 800 households.
In June 2014, more than 15 babies between four weeks and 29 months old died, while 20 others were hospitalised from dehydration after severe vomiting and diarrhoea caused by drinking contaminated water.
BusinessTech also travelled to the Matlosana Local Municipality, whose WWTWs are defined as being at high risk.
In Klerksdorp, raw sewage is seen regularly flowing into residential areas and directly into water sources.
Repair efforts have been continuously hampered by theft and a lack of investment in maintenance and upgrades.
A resident of Jouberton, Anele Mazibuko, told BusinessTech that they’ve grown used to the smell of sewage and excrement flowing down the streets.
The Matlosana Business Chamber (MBC) condemned this, saying no one, including businesses, should endure such conditions.
The MBC also highlighted that the lack of proper sanitation violates constitutional rights, with waste flowing into rivers, creating an “ecological disaster.”
The populous City of Rustenburg also has its WWTW in a high risk space.
Its issues are seen through some spillages into flowing water sources, which run along residential areas where children can be seen swimming.
The state of the Klerksdorp WWTW. Photo: Supplied
Sewerage polluting a fresh water source in Rustenburg. Photo: Seth Thorne
Far from limited to the North West
While the issue of WWTWs polluting fresh water sources is prevalent in the North West, Turton emphasised that it is far from exclusive and is a countrywide issue.
Of the 850 municipal WWTWs assessed, 39%, or 334 systems, were identified to be in a critical state, requiring urgent interventions and turnaround.
“Without sounding dramatic, South Africa is slowly committing ecocide – national suicide by poisoning its own drinking and crop production water,” said Turton.
He said South Africa mirrors a global crisis, where a growing population dependent on a diminishing fresh water supply with pollution exacerbating the problem.
However, he notes that South Africa is far from mitigation efforts right now, as well as falling behind in key technological advancements in the sector.
Turton said South Africa’s policies are mostly fine but unenforced.
Two key issues exacerbate the crisis:
- The outdated drinking water standard fails to address toxins like cyanotoxins, PFAS, and endocrine disruptors;
- The government’s “Three D’s” approach to the crisis—Deny, Deflect, and Demonise—has eroded public trust, with political parties confusing the public by downplaying dangers like that of blue-green algae.
Turton said the “single most important step is to stand together in holding elected officials accountable, arguing that non-accountability has caused the collapse of the water systems.
He said individuals will continue to be victims of a failing government if they don’t unite to hold officials accountable.”
Secondly, South Africans should be accurately aware of water quality. If water looks, smells, or tastes bad, avoid using it.
If necessary, sterilise it by boiling or using a disinfectant, but do so carefully, as the sterilising agent can be hazardous.
WWTW-South-Africa waste water treatment
DWS response
When a WWTW performs poorly, as indicated by a Green Drop score below 31%, it triggers regulatory actions.
The responsible Water Services Authority (WSA) is required to submit a corrective action plan within 60 days.
The Department of Water and Sanitation then monitors the quality and implementation of the CAP and may issue non-compliance letters.
Regulatory actions can range from issuing directives to laying criminal charges.
The DWS may also take over the function if the municipality does not respond or comply.
Images of sewage pollution in the Klip River in Gauteng
As just one example, an investigation by Wits Vuvuzela showed the affects from the Bushkoppies WWTW spilling raw sewage into the Harringtonspruit, a tributary of the widely-used Klip River:
