Blog categorized as Press Release

Water Testing Week: Action, Accountability, Awareness

WaterCAN’s fourth annual Citizen Science Water Testing Week runs 15–19 September, with the official launch on 18 September at the Johannesburg Zoo, in partnership with Joburg Parks
Over four years, more than 5,000 tests have been conducted, building South Africa’s largest citizen science water qualit...

16.09.2025 13:45:00

Johannesburg Communities Demand Water Justice

Johannesburg civil society organisations stand with the residents of Coronationville, Westbury, Westdene, Martindale and Sophiatown who took to the streets on Wednesday to demand what should never be denied - clean, reliable water.

Burning tyres and clouds of tear gas filled Coronationville as roads ...

10.09.2025 13:30:00

Sanitation and pit latrines should be treated as a national crisis, says WaterCAN

In the wake of yet another tragedy involving poor sanitation infrastructure at schools, the water and sanitation civic activism non-profit WaterCAN demands the National Government to prioritise the dignity of learners.

WaterCAN is devastated by another tragic death, this time a six-year-old Grade R p...

22.08.2025 11:09:09

UPDATE: Joburg Water responds to WaterCAN on Gauteng ecoli concerns

On July 18, 2025, WaterCAN raised the alarm over the Gauteng Province’s failure to meet basic microbiological water quality standards.

Our initial press statement - which you can read here was based on public commentary by water scientist Ms Ayesha Laher, who highlighted the province’s co...

05.08.2025 00:26:16

Gauteng E.coli alarm bell: Water safety under question

WaterCAN is raising alarm over the Gauteng Province’s failure to meet basic microbiological water quality standards.

READ NOW:Our letter sent to Joburg Water and the Department of Water and Sanitation

READ NOW: Johannesburg Water responds to WaterCAN Letter

This follows recent public commentary by wat...

19.07.2025 04:25:32

Bekkersdal Water Pollution Crisis: Rand West Municipality fails to act on unsafe water findings

Civil society organisations Be the Future Foundation, WaterCAN, Ahmed Kathrada Foundation and Defend Our Democracy have expressed deep concern and disappointment over the continued silence of the Rand West City Municipality in response to urgent water safety warnings in Bekkersdal and Simunye.Despit...

17.07.2025 22:37:43

Unsafe Water in Schools: Learners lead the call for urgent action

A new report released by WaterCAN today reveals a disturbing truth: 43% of water samples tested from South African schools are unsafe for human consumption, posing a serious threat to the health, dignity, and educational rights of thousands of learners across the country.

You can download the report ...

25.06.2025 21:00:32

The new Water Anti-Corruption Forum must deliver

WaterCAN, a civil society organisation advocating for water justice, has welcomed the launch of the Water Sector Anti-Corruption Forum (WSACF), led by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), as a critical intervention to confront entrenched corruption across South Africa’s water value chain. WaterCAN ...

16.05.2025 00:58:33

WaterCAN Responds to the Mayor’s State of the City Address

Bold Words Must Be Matched with Urgent Action on Water and Sanitation

According to WaterCAN, a water justice group, the City of Johannesburg Mayor’s 2025 State of the City Address failed to instill confidence that Johannesburg is treating its water and sanitation crisis with the urgency and transpare...

09.05.2025 20:41:08

Going to the park? Take a rubbish bag and pick up a load of litter

The Joburg spruits need your help

Unrestrained sewage spills from the City of Johannesburg and rubbish are polluting the Johannesburg spruits which run from Gauteng to Mozambique, are used for water sports, religious ceremonies and replenishing wetlands, and are needed by people, birds and wildlife i...

29.04.2025 21:09:48