News

WaterCAN raises alarm over unsafe tap water in Tulbagh – calls for immediate boil water notice and urgent intervention

UPDATE 18 December 2025: WaterCAN has been in contact with both the Witzenberg Municipality and the Western Cape Government concerning the crisis in Tulbagh. As soon as we have more details we will provide an updated statement.

07.12.2025 21:54:02

WaterCAN welcomes Emalahleni ruling – calls for nationwide crackdown, personal accountability for municipal polluters

WaterCAN has welcomed the landmark Mpumalanga High Court ruling that fined the Emalahleni Local Municipality R650 million for years of allowing untreated sewage to flow into rivers and dams – but says this must be the start of a nationwide crackdown on municipal polluters and the individuals who ena...

13.11.2025 20:47:24

Days before the G20 Summit, Joburg Water’s R1 Billion debt sparks humanitarian crisis – says WaterCAN.

Johannesburg Water’s debt has surged past R1 billion, resulting in unpaid contractors thousands without access to water;

WaterCAN accuses the city of financial mismanagement and demands urgent action;

With the G20 Summit days away, WaterCAN warns that the city’s priorities are misplaced, prioritising ...

11.11.2025 11:16:31

“No Water, No Vote”: Joburg’s united protest demands action

The Joburg Crisis Alliance notes that the water crisis protest on 01 November 2025, at the Metro Centre, brought people together from across the city of Johannesburg in a show of unity. The large numbers who attended the protest reflected the unity that can be built from a common struggle across rac...

05.11.2025 11:51:40

Is the Sewer System of Johannesburg Collapsing?

Written by Dr Teresa Dirsuweit

In 2024, WaterCAN — an organisation that monitors and reports on water quality — distributed testing kits to volunteers across the Johannesburg area. Dedicated citizen scientists have been regularly testing the city’s streams and monitoring pollution sources. The r...

04.11.2025 13:45:11

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...