August 23, 2023
South Africa: Rapidly Worsening Ecological Condition of Dams is Likely to Eclipse Rolling Blackouts
In the absence of a well-funded, properly informed and cohesive strategic plan for South African reservoir limnology, misinformation will remain a problem, old findings will be… Read more »
August 10, 2023
South Africa: Millions of Litres of Poo a Day Never Even Reach SA's Failing, Underserviced Sewage Plants
A significant portion of our untreated sewage never even gets to our sewage plants. It goes straight into streams, rivers, dams, groundwater, and ultimately the ocean -- untreated… Read more »
July 26, 2023
South Africa: Cholera Outbreak 'Represents Ears of Hippopotamus' of Wastewater Treatment Crisis
While an independent assessment by the Water Resource Commission can't identify the source of the recent cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal, the investigation highlights a much… Read more »
July 12, 2023
South Africa: More Water Tankers Deployed in Joburg Amid Scheduled Water System Shutdown This Week
Halfway through Johannesburg's 58-hour shutdown of a significant chunk of its water system, water towers and reservoirs in some suburbs are critically low or already empty, with… Read more »
June 25, 2023
South Africa: Mpumalanga Municipality Fined R70m for Vaal River Sewage Pollution
The Lekwa Local Municipality was fined R70m for failing to stop sewage from flowing into the Vaal River. The penalty is among the highest on record in SA for an environmental crime Read more »
June 22, 2023
South Africa: Makana Mayor Confident There Will Be Water, As National Arts Festival Kicks Off
Makana Local Municipality mayor Yandiswa Vara is certain there will be enough water for those attending the National Arts Festival starting on Friday in Makhanda (formerly… Read more »
June 20, 2023
South Africa: Simplest Solution to Cholera Crisis Is Fixing Our Broken Sewerage Systems
What we learn from the history of cholera is that resistance to implementing fundamental human health management practices, first learnt in London in the 1800s, costs human lives. Read more »
June 19, 2023
South Africa: Amatola Water Vows to Pull Out All Stops to Keep Makhanda Water On for National Arts Festival
The Amatola Water Board has promised to do its best to keep the water on during the arts festival that takes place in Makhanda in July. The town, home to Rhodes University and the… Read more »
June 07, 2023
South Africa: Top Scientists Present Action Plan to Fight Nationwide Cholera Outbreak
The Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies says the loss of lives to cholera in Hammanskraal is symptomatic of a widening collapse of water treatment facilities that could… Read more »
South Africa: Water Pressure Restored At Helen Joseph Hospital but Senior Clinician Voices Healthcare Concerns
The water supply at the hospital in Johannesburg has been resorted following low water pressure since Thursday, 1 June. A senior clinician at the hospital described the situation… Read more »
May 28, 2023
South Africa: Ramaphosa 'Satisfied' With Govt Response to Cholera Outbreak, Vows to Visit Hammanskraal
A government investigation is yet to find the source of contaminated water, while 23 people have lost their lives and dozens have been hospitalised. Read more »
May 24, 2023
South Africa: Andries Tatane Died for Water - Hammanskraal Cholera Deaths Did Not Come Out of the Blue
Hammanskraal falls under the control of one of the biggest metros in the country -- and our capital city. Imagine what's happening to those in our far-flung rural areas? Read more »
May 23, 2023
South Africa: Gauteng Cholera Outbreak - What You Can Do to Ensure Your Water Is Safe
As health authorities scramble to combat the cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal that has claimed 15 lives and infected dozens more, it's vital that communities ensure their water is… Read more »
May 22, 2023
South Africa: Cholera Death Toll in Hammanskraal Rises to 15 As Probe Yet to Find Source of Contaminated Water
The cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal has claimed 15 lives and 34 others have been admitted to the Jubilee District Hospital, where a command centre has been activated. Read more »
April 03, 2023
South Africa: Durban Agrees to Provide 'Action Plan' On Sewage Pollution - - One Year After the Floods
Nigh on a year after devastating floods hit the KwaZulu-Natal coastline, Durban municipal leaders have agreed finally to publish a detailed 'action plan' to repair and upgrade the… Read more »
March 24, 2023
South Africa: Joburg's Latest Water Outages - Residents Ask - 'Is This Sabotage or Secret Shedding?'
There is seemingly no end to the City of Joburg's water troubles, after the knock-on effect of a power failure at one treatment plant once again left residents with dry taps this… Read more »
March 12, 2023
South Africa: Massive Explosion, Electricity Outages Leave Nelson Mandela Bay Metro Facing a Week Without Water
The Nelson Mandela Bay metro braces for week-long water outages after two major electricity failures and a substation explosion. Read more »
December 18, 2022
South Africa: We All Saw the Durban Sewage Crisis Coming, but Remained Silent
Dr Imraan Buccus is senior research associate at ASRI. Read more »
December 01, 2022
South Africa: Cape Town Mayor Bullish On Solving City's Sewage Crisis but Residents Say Much More Needs to Be Done
The city still has numerous sewage pollution issues, but Geordin Hill-Lewis is 'on the right track', says expert. Read more »
October 16, 2022
South Africa: Johannesburg Water Calls Emergency Meeting As Levels Shift From Critically Low to Empty
Several parts of Johannesburg are without water after Rand Water's load shift crashed Johannesburg Water's Commando system. Read more »
October 04, 2022
South Africa: Taps Run Dry in Parts of Johannesburg
Rand Water doubles water restrictions as city reservoirs run dry -- water cuts are the new load shedding, say residents. Read more »
August 21, 2022
South Africa: Mother Dead, Scores Sick With Diarrhoea As Polluted Tap Water Confirmed
In response to questions from Our Burning Planet after the death of Rashnie Baijnath, the eThekwini Municipality confirmed that tap water in the Birchwood area, west of the city,… Read more »
July 06, 2022
South Africa: Eleven Days Without Water - Load Shedding in Eastern Cape Wrecks Middelburg Borehole Pumps
The people of Midros in Middelburg in the Eastern Cape have been without water for 11 days after crucial borehole pumps burnt out during load shedding on 25 June. It has taken the… Read more »
June 30, 2022
South Africa: South African Company Launches World-First Crypto Water Token
A new model for financing water projects around the world has been developed by a local company. Read more »
June 28, 2022
South Africa: 'No Problem Is Insurmountable' - Dr Imtiaz Sooliman On Nelson Mandela Bay's Day Zero
With his 'can-do' attitude and trademark energy, Gift of the Givers' Dr Imtiaz Sooliman has brought some hope to Nelson Mandela Bay -- a city torn apart by political bickering and… Read more »