Blog tagged as South Africa

E-Coli findings in South African schools drinking water “highly concerning”, says WaterCAN

Results from the WaterCAN Schools Water Testing Project have revealed alarming findings, with nearly a third of participating schools recording high levels of E-coli in their drinking water.

Of the 72 schools that submitted their drinking water test results to WaterCAN, 20 test results have been flag...

21.04.2026 12:03:00
South Africa’s water crisis has become a sustained violation of human rights

As South Africa marks Human Rights Day and World Water Day, the reality for millions is stark: “Day Zero” is not a future threat - it is already here. WaterCAN believes authorities at local, provincial and national level are continuing to violate the rights of millions of people by failing to provid...

20.03.2026 16:21:55
South Africa’s water crisis deepens - WaterCAN warns against “celebrating mediocrity”

WaterCAN says the latest Green Drop Report, Blue Drop Progress Assessment findings confirm a deepening water and wastewater crisis in South Africa and reflect a continued failure to act despite years of warnings.


Green Drop Report

South Africa’s wastewater treatment performance has declined, with on...


20.03.2026 16:21:55
Crisis in Mokopane – filthy water comes out of taps

WaterCAN is deeply concerned by reports from Limpopo that residents in Mokopane are facing serious questions over the safety and quality of their drinking water after discoloured, brown water was reportedly supplied to several communities.

WaterCAN was first contacted by Baba Selomo from the Young U...

20.03.2026 15:51:35
Five days without water for Joburg’s most vulnerable is unacceptable, says WaterCAN

WaterCAN has condemned the City of Johannesburg after residents of Nana’s Farm, Phumla Mqashi and Water Works, all informal settlements in the city, were left without water for five days.

The organisation said activists in the affected communities reported that there had been no regular tanker deliv...

18.03.2026 11:50:05
WaterCAN mobilises over 150 schools across South Africa for 2026 Schools Water Testing Week

WaterCAN will host its 2026 Schools Water Testing Week from 16 to 20 March 2026, bringing together 158 schools across all nine provinces in a coordinated citizen science campaign aimed at promoting safer drinking water, stronger water awareness and greater accountability in schools.


The initiative bu...


16.03.2026 12:16:49
The new Water Anti-Corruption Forum must deliver
WaterCAN, a civil society organisation advocating for water justice, has welcomed the launch of the Water Sector Anti-Corruption Forum (WSACF), led by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), as a critical intervention to confront entrenched corruption across South Africa’s water value chain. WaterCAN ...
16.05.2025 00:58:33
Sewage pollution: a violation of basic human rights


South Africa’s water resources, sanitation services and infrastructure are in a dire state. Billions of litres of industrial pollution, pharmaceutical wastewater, mine waste and untreated sewage are being released into our rivers and oceans every day. This needs to stop. The Organisation Undoing Tax...

18.03.2022 20:33:16