Blog tagged as WaterCAN

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

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
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Is the Sewer System of Johannesburg Collapsing?

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

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
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WaterCAN Testing Week 2025: Building an Army of Water Activists

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
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Johannesburg Communities Demand Water Justice

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
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Sanitation and pit latrines should be treated as a national crisis, says WaterCAN

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
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UPDATE: Joburg Water responds to WaterCAN on Gauteng ecoli concerns

UPDATE: Joburg Water responds to WaterCAN on Gauteng ecoli concerns

05.08.2025 00:26:16
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Be The Future Foundation: A rising stare in water activism

Be The Future Foundation: A rising stare in water activism

In the West Rand region of South Africa, where community access to clean water and reliable services often hangs in the balance, Be The Future Foundation is causing disruptive ripples. Founded and led by Sandile Soxokashe, the organisation brings young leaders into the heart of civic advocacy and wa...

04.08.2025 18:59:21
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Gauteng E.coli alarm bell: Water safety under question

Gauteng E.coli alarm bell: Water safety under question

WaterCAN is raising alarm over the Gauteng Province’s failure to meet basic microbiological water quality standards.


READ NOW:Our lettersent to Joburg Water and the Department of Water and Sanitation


This follows recent public commentary by wat...



19.07.2025 04:25:32
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Unsafe Water in Schools: Learners lead the call for urgent action

Unsafe Water in Schools: Learners lead the call for urgent action

A new report released by WaterCAN today reveals a disturbing truth: 43% of water samples tested from South African schools are unsafe for human consumption, posing a serious threat to the health, dignity, and educational rights of thousands of learners across the country.

You can download the report ...

25.06.2025 21:00:32
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