News

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

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