News

Community-led citizen science a solution to Free State’s water crisis

Communities in the Free State are living through a daily water crisis - dry taps, contaminated rivers, and sewage flowing through neighbourhoods.

On 14 October 2025, WaterCAN held a community water training and testing workshop in the Free State to help citizens take back control through scienc...

28.10.2025 15:58:43

OPINION: Celebrating the value of water through citizen science - Water Testing Week

Op-Ed by Nhlanhla Sibisi - WaterCAN Campaigns Coordinator and Nomsa Daele - WaterCAN Senior Team Leader.

WaterCAN, with partner organisations, celebrated its 4th Annual Citizen Science Water Testing Week at the Johannesburg Zoo - covering the week of 15-19 September 2025. The launch was held on...

16.10.2025 13:16:04

Voices from WaterCAN's Testing Week - KERA

The Kirstenhof and Environs Residents’ Association (KERA) took part in WaterCAN’s 4th annual Citizen Science Water Testing Week, contributing vital local data from the Kirstenhof Duckpond, Westlake River, and Keysers River to South Africa’s largest public water-quality database. The national campaig...

16.10.2025 13:05:00

WaterCAN Testing Week: Creating Partnerships

More than 500 citizen science kits were distributed across South Africa as part of WaterCAN’s annual National Water Testing Week, uniting partners and volunteers from every province. Schools, community groups, and environmental organisations took part in testing rivers, taps, and boreholes — generat...

16.10.2025 11:32:33

#JoburgWaterCrisis: 203 suppliers owed R666m. Many down tools, projects delayed.

WaterCAN is deeply alarmed by evidence showing that Johannesburg’s critical water infrastructure projects are grinding to a halt because of the City’s failure to pay contractors and the ongoing dysfunction of its financial management system.

Furthermore, WaterCAN’s Executive Director, Dr. Ferrial Ada...

16.10.2025 11:32:33

Civil society to protest water crisis in Johannesburg

Johannesburg residents, civil society groups, and community organisations have united under a city-wide coalition demanding urgent action to end what they describe as a “human rights and economic emergency” caused by the worsening water crisis.
In a formal letter to Mayor Dada Morero, the coalit...

15.10.2025 18:18:36

Media Advisory: Citizen-led Joburg Water Protest to be held on 1 November 2025

Peaceful, united protest: Joburg residents, community organisations, and civil society will protest on Saturday, 1 November 2025, outside the Johannesburg Council Chambers to demand urgent action on the city’s worsening water crisis.

Non-political movement: Organisers have urged participants to avoid...

15.10.2025 18:18:36

Audit all water now, says WaterCAN

WaterCAN has called for an urgent, independent audit of all South Africa’s water boards.
Executive Manager Dr Ferrial Adam condemned the waste as “immoral and unacceptable”.
The organisation warns that without accountability, transparency and financial reform at water boards, South Africa’s water cris...

07.10.2025 13:49:00

WaterCAN Testing Week 2025: Building an Army of Water Activists

The fourth annual WaterCAN Testing Week marked another milestone in South Africa’s growing citizen science movement - a week where learners, volunteers, and communities united to test, learn, and act for clean water.

Hosted at the Johannesburg Zoo, this year’s event was driven by WaterCAN in partner...

25.09.2025 14:08:00

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