SA to get first-ever list of the country's biggest water polluters
The government has announced plans to release a list of the country’s biggest water polluters to name and shame those responsible.
Minister of Water and Sanitation Senzo Mchunu has shared plans to implement a National Register of Polluters in an attempt to hold the country’s biggest polluters accountable.
According to Mchunu, the register will include entities from both the private and public sectors.
“We want those in positions of authority, mayors and CEOs of companies, to have their names put in the register so that they account for the neglect that leaves our rivers polluted,” said the minister.
BusinessTech reported that the severe pollution of the Vaal River sparked the idea for the register.
Mchunu said the Vaal “is not just a vital water source, it is a lifeline for our communities, industries and ecosystems [and] its health is under threat from various sources, including wastewater discharge”.
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) revealed that 47 wastewater treatment works (WWTWs) have been found to be contaminating the Vaal River.
The register was confirmed by Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation Dr Jack Bloom when he officially launched the Department’s 2026 Clear Rivers Campaign at the Apies River in Pretoria North.
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He also highlighted findings from the 2025 Green Drop Report, which revealed that nearly half of South Africa’s municipal wastewater treatment systems are in a critical state.
To strengthen accountability and improve compliance, the Department is establishing a National Register of Polluters aimed at identifying polluters and ensuring they are held accountable for contaminating the country’s water resources.
DWS Chief Director for Water Use Compliance and Enforcement Anet Muir told the SABC that the register would help draw attention to polluters and place pressure on them, as court action and penalties could follow.
According to the DWS’s 2023 Blue Drop Report, about 46% of water supply systems do not comply with microbiological standards, which means drinking water could be contaminated with sewage and harmful bacteria.
This could lead to the growth of harmful microorganisms such as Legionella and cyanobacteria.
Health risks associated with affected water supplies could include gastrointestinal illnesses such as cholera, dysentery, hepatitis A and typhoid.
Clear Rivers Campaign 2026
Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation Dr Jack Bloom officially launched the Department’s 2026 ‘Clear Rivers Campaign’ at the Apies River in Pretoria North, urging all South Africans to play an active role in protecting and restoring the country’s precious water resources.
Held during Mandela Month under the theme, “South Africa is a water-scarce country, clean up and protect our water resources”, the campaign brought together national, provincial and local government, state-owned entities, environmental organisations, schools, private-sector partners, community-based organisations and volunteers in a united effort to rehabilitate one of Gauteng’s most polluted rivers.
The launch forms part of the Department’s nationwide initiative encouraging citizens to dedicate their 67 minutes of service to cleaning rivers, wetlands, streams, canals, dams and other freshwater ecosystems, while promoting environmental stewardship and responsible water resource management.
Delivering the keynote address, Bloom said the campaign seeks to strengthen environmental awareness, encourage volunteerism and inspire active citizen participation in safeguarding South Africa’s limited freshwater resources.
“Our rivers are the lifeblood of our communities, our economy and our ecosystems. Their protection cannot be left to government alone. Every South African has a responsibility to prevent pollution, report illegal dumping and become an active custodian of our water resources,” said Bloom.
The Deputy Minister emphasised that although community clean-up campaigns play an important role in restoring rivers, they address only the visible effects of pollution. He stressed that lasting solutions require tackling the root causes, including illegal dumping, deteriorating wastewater infrastructure and the discharge of untreated sewage into rivers.
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