News

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

South Africa needs strong, ethical ministers for water and environmental ministries not destructive power politics

Today, on 5 June, we celebrate World Environment Day, a milestone established during the landmark Earth Summit of 1972, which also led to the formation of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP).

This day is dedicated to raising awareness and prompting action for environmental protect...

05.06.2024 17:45:27

Tackling the Root Causes of Sewage Manhole Overflows in Our Municipalities

The sight and stench of sewage overflowing from manholes onto our streets highlights a failure in the very systems designed to protect public health and the environment.

The recurrence of these incidents in municipalities across South Africa underscores systemic issues that demand urgent attent...

22.05.2024 20:59:28

Foundation laid for the creation of a KwaZulu-Natal Water Forum

WaterCAN, an initiative of the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA), together with the Durban-based and world-renowned South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA), have – along with various other provincially-based community organisations –laid the groundwork for the creation of a civil s...

15.05.2024 19:14:45

Carolina Eco Green and WaterCAN demand safe drinking water for Carolina

Carolina Eco Green, a leading environmental organisation in Carolina, Mpumalanga, is sounding the alarm on the municipality’s persistent neglect of water safety. Despite repeatedly raising concerns about the poor quality of tap water, the municipality fails to respond effectively. Independent water ...

26.04.2024 22:27:08

Mining Operations Impacting Clean Water Access

The state of water resources in South Africa due to mining operations has raised significant concerns regarding the enforcement of regulations and the support for communities affected by these activities. "As a result, the path to clean drinking water as a human right is even further away ...

10.04.2024 22:05:06

Dirty water in Savanna City?

WaterCAN calls on municipalities to treat complaints about contaminated tap water as urgent, and to share information with the public to give people confidence in their drinking water. The issue was reported by residents to the municipality who agreed to dispatch a team. However, on 5 April there wa...

05.04.2024 21:01:27

How to jointly stop the water crisis from becoming a national catastrophe

The water crisis in Johannesburg must not be seen as just a localised city issue; it is a symptom of a bigger national and systemic water crisis with high levels of unequal access, poor quality and scarcity exacerbated by climate change, mismanagement, corruption and poor leadership.

There is no quic...

29.03.2024 01:19:58