A study led by Dr Mathapelo Seopela at the institution has identified high concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the river, a crucial water source in Gauteng. This poses a significant threat to aquatic life, livestock, and human health.

Seopela has called on the government to improve its waste management services and to implement better measures to prevent pollutants from entering water bodies.

“But also, at the same time, it would be good for the Department of Water Affairs as well as the Department of Environment to start looking at how we are doing with monitoring the environment. Are we just looking at basic water quality parameters, or are we expanding our contaminant list to include emerging contaminants, which we have seen have very toxic effects even at very low concentrations?”

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