The Stellenbosch Municipality’s handling of wastewater has come under fire, with AfriForum, a South African civil rights organization, alleging a cover-up of pollution in local rivers. Based on records from the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), AfriForum contends that Stellenbosch’s wastewater treatment plants fail to meet regulatory standards, with treated wastewater contaminating the Eerste and Veldwagters Rivers. AfriForum has filed a complaint with the Information Regulator (IR), demanding transparency after the municipality refused its initial request under the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA). The organization claims municipal data conflicts with DWS findings, suggesting that local authorities are minimizing the issue to the public's detriment.

The dispute centers on longstanding access issues. AfriForum’s PAIA application sought information on potential pollution and wastewater discharge in Stellenbosch. However, the municipality denied the request, citing confidentiality, even after an appeal. AfriForum insists that such information should be publicly available, arguing that residents have a right to know about environmental risks in their community.

Jacques Benade, AfriForum’s Boland District Coordinator, argues that recent claims by Stellenbosch Municipality of “no issues” with wastewater are contradicted by the Iris data and Green Drop report findings:

“The residents of Stellenbosch will no longer allow the municipality to pull the wool over their eyes. The truth must come out, and AfriForum is ready to fight on in the interests of residents, businesses, farmers, and the community’s economy.”

DWS’s Integrated Regulatory Information System (Iris) has revealed worrying data on water quality at Stellenbosch’s wastewater facilities. Of 116 recent tests at the Stellenbosch Wastewater Treatment Plant, 61 (or 53%) failed to meet the required standards. Among these, 21 samples showed dangerous levels of E. coli, a bacterium indicating fecal contamination, with one sample registering an alarming 206,000 parts per 100 ml—far exceeding the permissible 10 parts per 100 ml. This suggests untreated or inadequately treated wastewater is contaminating local rivers, posing serious health risks.

The situation is reportedly no better at the Wemmershoek Wastewater Treatment Plant, where 115 out of 190 recent tests (nearly 61%) also failed to meet quality standards. In this facility, 37 samples contained unsafe E. coli levels, with one recording an astonishing 3.8 million parts per 100 ml. These findings underscore what AfriForum deems a systemic issue of water mismanagement.

The DWS's 2023 Green Drop Progress Report paints an equally bleak picture. This report, a comprehensive assessment of South Africa’s municipal wastewater treatment facilities, placed both Stellenbosch and Wemmershoek plants in the high-risk category, with risk ratings of 86.4% and 82.4%, respectively. Such ratings indicate serious failures in operational processes, maintenance, capacity, and quality control. The report bluntly labeled the municipality’s performance “dismal” and cited ongoing concerns about poor microbiological quality in treated wastewater. It also noted the municipality’s reluctance to provide necessary data to DWS, undermining the accuracy of publicly reported figures on Iris.

AfriForum has also taken steps to independently verify the water quality, commissioning an accredited lab to conduct thorough tests. The aim is to confirm whether untreated sewage is being dumped into the rivers, which would represent a significant environmental hazard.

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