Decades of industrial waste and sewage spills have turned the Klip River into a health hazard – WaterCAN is calling for accountability before more lives are at risk.
Credit: OUTA
The Water Community Action Network (WaterCAN), is demanding urgent action following a University of Johannesburg study confirming the long-term toxic pollution of the Klip River – a crisis WaterCAN has been warning about since 2023.
The Klip River feeds into the Vaal River, a critical water source for millions of South Africans. Yet, ongoing industrial and municipal pollution threatens ecosystems, public health, food security, and basic human rights, says Dr Ferrial Adam, Executive Manager for WaterCAN.
In March 2023, the Klip River was linked to cholera cases in Gauteng when a 10-year-old girl from Katlehong tested positive after being baptized in the river. Residents were urged to avoid using untreated water for drinking or food preparation.
By July 2023, WaterCAN had filed a criminal complaint against the City of Johannesburg, former acting municipal manager Bryne Maduka, and then-municipal manager Floyd Brink for failing to address sewage pollution in the Klip River. The city also ignored a directive from the Department of Water and Sanitation to rectify the issue.
“We believe that until individuals—whether in government or business—are charged and prosecuted, pollution will continue unchecked,” says Dr Adam. “Yet, two years after our criminal complaints, no one has been held accountable.”
WaterCAN’s complaint followed the breakdown of the generator at the Goudkoppies Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW), which forced sewage inflow to be rerouted to Bushkoppies WWTW. Lacking capacity, Bushkoppies overflowed, spilling raw sewage into the Harringtonspruit, which then flowed into the Klip River and ultimately into the Vaal River.
The UJ research exposes decades of contamination, particularly from industrial sources, turning the Klip River into a sludge-filled, toxic stream.
“In a water-scarce country like ours, such pollution is criminal. It’s time to hold individuals accountable. Polluting water is a violation of basic rights, including the right to health,” says Dr Adam.
She urges the public to see rivers not as distant issues or dead things, but as something that affects their daily lives and health. “This pollution is hurting you. The toxic chemicals in the Klip River can cause cancers, hormonal disruptions, respiratory illnesses, and neurological damage.”
Communities near the river face a slow, silent health disaster, according to Dr Adam. “Enough is enough. We cannot wait for studies to pile up while our rivers—and our people—get sicker. We need action, not more silence.”
WaterCAN is calling on the National Prosecuting Authority to act. “It’s time environmental crimes are treated with the seriousness they deserve.”
More information
A soundbite with comment by Dr Ferrial Adam, WaterCAN Executive Manager, is here.
About WaterCAN
WaterCAN is a dedicated environmental organisation committed to preserving and protecting South Africa’s water resources. With a mission to promote responsible water management and raise awareness about water quality, the organisation empowers communities to become proactive stewards of their local water sources. If you would like to support our work, kindly Donate Here.
