News

Sasol case drags on, but does pollution stop?


The criminal case against Sasol for allegedly discharging water contaminated with chemicals including vanadium into a tributary of the Vaal River was postponed on Monday 20 November to 5 July 2024. 
The postponement was agreed between the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and Sasol, at the NP...

20.11.2023 23:21:16
WaterCAN, civil society and key water authorities work towards setting up a water forum in Johannesburg


The national Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), Rand Water (RW) and Johannesburg Water (JW) got together with WaterCAN and civil society organisations at the weekend to discuss the water crisis in Johannesburg. 
But the City of Johannesburg (CoJ), which controls the funds available for it...

14.11.2023 20:59:01
Where is the money coming from for the Joburg water infrastructure upgrades?


WaterCAN, an initiative of the  Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA), calls on the Gauteng water authorities to make their water infrastructure plans public, with detailed spending and timelines. 
This would provide clarity for the public on what infrastructure is being built, how much it ...

13.10.2023 20:33:18
WaterCAN calls for urgent action to address widespread water leaks


WaterCAN, an initiative of the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA), has called for urgent meetings with Rand Water and Johannesburg Water over the ongoing water crisis. 
Over the past year, Gauteng has witnessed a disturbing increase in water challenges, marked by frequent shutdowns, water she...

09.10.2023 22:35:11
WaterCAN Launches Second Annual Water Testing Week Across South Africa


WaterCAN’s second annual Water Testing Week is underway this week, running from the 17th to the 24th of September encompassing the World Water Monitoring Day on 18 September and culminating in World Rivers Day on 24 September. WaterCAN, an initiative of the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA), is ...

29.09.2023 23:03:17
Citizen scientists take the plunge to change the tide on water quality


A deluge of activist citizen scientists is heading for the water. They are participating in a water monitoring and testing week from 17 to 24 September. 
The campaign is centred on World Water Monitoring Day on 18 September — focusing on the testing of tap water, rivers, reservoirs and dams — an...

19.09.2023 15:41:19
Gauteng water troubles underline fragility of mismanaged system


Gauteng authorities are blaming each other over water problems instead of working together to resolve the issues. WaterCAN, an initiative of the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA), calls for a focus on resolving the water issues, providing the public with accurate information and for accountabili...

07.09.2023 18:57:26

WaterCAN disappointed over yet another postponement of Sasol environmental case

Delays in legal proceedings hinder both justice and the vital environmental cleanup process

Image: WaterCAN

WaterCAN, an initiative of the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA), has expressed deep disappointment that the c...
08.08.2023 00:36:33
WaterCAN lays criminal charges against City of Joburg municipal managers for sewage pollution


On Freedom Day last year the generator at the Goudkoppies Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) broke down, so sewage inflow had to be rerouted to nearby Bushkoppies WWTW during power cuts. 
Less than two weeks later, cable theft at Goudkoppies and still no generator meant that all inflow was rerout...

25.07.2023 20:33:23
Recent E. coli results in eThekwini require beach closure


  The extremely high level of failure of the country’s various water service authorities and water service providers to supply the national water department with timely data on the state of their water resources is precisely the type of inaction that will lead to water-borne disease outbreaks b...

06.07.2023 19:43:01