News

No power and poor contractors affect water and sanitation delivery

MTBPS 2024 underlines the need for municipal reform to get basic services delivered

The Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS 2024) illustrates how widespread and unmanaged government dysfunction affects delivery. This is one of the most illuminating sentences in the MTBPS, found in the Water an...

04.11.2024 23:35:47

Navigating Waterborne Diseases in a Changing Climate: South Africa’s Urgent Challenge

This opinion piece was written by Dr. Ogone Motlogeloa

South Africa is confronting a severe crisis where climate change and declining water quality intersect, leading to a significant impact on public health and the environment. This crisis affects all facets of South African life, demanding a ...

25.10.2024 18:10:33

Gauteng’s water crisis: Rand Water's messaging on the crisis

Gauteng consumers and municipalities should use water as though Day Zero is upon us, and get used to that as a way of life.

The recent Rand Water announcement about the constraints in Gauteng’s water supply systems has not successfully raised awareness among residents about the urgent need to reduce ...

21.10.2024 20:44:48

Half the Joburg water reservoirs leak and WaterCAN wants answers

As Day Zero looms in Joburg, the news of the City’s 42 leaking reservoirs underlines the need for transparency

The revelation that half of the City of Joburg’s water reservoirs leak and that the City plans to repair only half of those is shocking, but the release of this information is welcome. “It’s...

08.10.2024 17:29:48

Citizen science leads the way in water monitoring and protection

South Africa’s next big crisis – this time with water – is here, and it will have a much bigger impact than our energy crisis. But citizen science activism can help turn it around. Dr Ferrial Adam, WaterCAN’s executive manager, explains how.

The state of our water resources affects us all, whether yo...

17.09.2024 19:04:57

Mogale City’s Infrastructure Collapse: A Threat to Public Health and Human Rights

Mismanagement and Neglect Expose Mogale City Residents to Health Risks Amid Sewage Crisis

Reports of wilful and persistent sewage pollution by the City of Mogale reveal more than an environmental disaster; they highlight a human rights violation with the potential to cause a public health crisis. The...

17.09.2024 03:50:16

Water Monitoring Day with nationwide water testing campaign

WaterCAN, an initiative of the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA), is proud to announce its 3rd annual water testing month this September, in collaboration with the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens. This initiative is part of the ...

04.09.2024 20:03:45

Charge negligent officials over Makhanda and eThekwini water outages

The water supply situation will only improve when municipal managers face charges over failed water supply

WaterCAN is deeply concerned about the ongoing water outages affecting the communities of Makhanda and eThekwini. These disruptions have caused significant inconvenience and hardship for residen...

30.08.2024 21:53:32

WaterCAN calls on municipalities to warn the public about contaminated tap water

The Blue Drop Report released in 2023 highlights the fact that at least 46% of drinking systems don’t comply with microbiological standards. According to the regulations under the Water Services Act, it is mandatory for a municipality to inform users if it repeatedly finds water quality does not mee...

02.07.2024 23:55:14

Communities without water despite Joburg Water's promises

While the maintenance is welcomed and essential, frustrations with Joburg Water are mounting. The utility had promised to deploy 85 water trucks and place 300 JoJo tanks near hospitals, clinics, old age homes, schools, and police stations.

However, residents still do not know where these can be...

28.06.2024 00:48:03