Tshwane’s Green Drop score for wastewater treatment has fallen from 82% in 2013 to 33.8% – just above the threshold that triggers regulatory intervention (Photo: GroundUp)
By Seth Thorne for GroundUp
The Department of Water and Sanitation has given the City of Tshwane 60 days from March 31 to explain what it plans to do to fix the collapsing sewage treatment plants.
The department’s Green Drop report for 2025 shows a rapidly deteriorating sanitation system, putting communities and ecosystems at risk.
Scores of 90% are considered excellent, while scores below 31% are considered critical and require regulatory intervention.
Tshwane, which had another strong performance of 82% in 2013, has now fallen below 34% and is firmly in the underperforming category.
As a result, the department placed the municipality under regulatory supervision in terms of the Water Services Act – a status that indicates a “systemic operational, management and compliance failure” that requires urgent stabilization.
The city must submit a detailed plan outlining specific measures and time-bound milestones to restore functionality and compliance.
The report, published on 31 March 2026, is the country’s most important audit of wastewater services. It evaluates operational capacity, environmental performance, financial management, technical skills and compliance with effluent and sludge standards.
Tarryn Johnston, a water activist and director of the environmental services firm Living Wisdom Strategic Solutions, says: “The score is not a revelation; it is an overdue acknowledgment of a collapse that has visibly, measurably and steadily worsened.”
Six plants disqualified
A private sewage suction truck arrives at the Sunderland Ridge plant (Photo: GroundUp)
The report shows a disturbing average microbiological compliance rate of just 4% for Tshwane’s sewage treatment works. None of the 16 systems met the satisfactory threshold and 15 fell below the critical 30% level, endangering public health, rivers, groundwater, ecosystems and agriculture.
Six of Tshwane’s 16 wastewater treatment works achieved a general score of 30% or less.
- Bronkhorstspruit (Godrich) decreased from 61% in 2021 to 30%
- Ekangala from 55% to just under 23%
- Rooiwal East Works from 69% to 30%
- Rooiwal-Noordwerke from 67% to below 24%
- Reed hole from 63% to 28.5%
- Klipgat remained more or less the same at 30% versus 29%
These plants have been fined for exceeding capacity, persistent failures in outflows and non-compliance with regulatory directives.
Another eight plants achieved between 30% and 50%, all lower than in 2021:
- Seagull hole: 61% to 44%
- Sunderland Ridge: 66% tot 35%
- Parents: 56% tot 35%
- Baviaanspoort: 57% to just under 35%
- Sandspruit: 54% to just under 35%
- Rayton: 49% to 32.5%
- Refilwe: 53% to just under 32%
- Temba: 64% to about 32%
The department says a criminal case has been filed with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and an investigation by the SAPS is underway.
Capacity and other challenges
The foaming Hennops River, polluted by poor or untreated sewage from the Sunderland Ridge plant (Photo: GroundUp)
Tshwane reported using only 103,040 kiloliters per day of its 506,400 kiloliters per day treatment capacity. However, this is misleading, as 14 of the 16 plants did not submit any flow data, and much sewage may leak or spill into the environment before reaching the plants.
Of the few plants that did submit data, Daspoort is operating under severe pressure at more than double its design capacity.
The City of Tshwane was also highlighted for poor management, which complicates risk analysis and planning, as it was unable to provide the total length of its sewerage network.
Inadequate investment over a long period of time, theft and vandalism have contributed to recurring pollution incidents. Engineering capacity is “significantly below” the required level, with an average of less than three qualified staff per plant, compared to more than eight in Johannesburg. Training levels of operational staff are among the lowest in the province.
Financial mismanagement worsened the situation, with the metro not spending more than 20% of its operation and maintenance budget.
The department classified Tshwane as a “regulatory concern” and indicated that previous investments had not led to better performance or accountability.
Requests for intervention and city plans
Johnston says the decline can only be reversed by stabilization of failing plants; restoration of nuclear treatment processes; restoration of technical expertise; protection of infrastructure higher up in the system; stricter enforcement of compliance; and cooperation across river systems.
Without such interventions, she warns of serious health risks, environmental damage and rising economic costs associated with water treatment, agriculture and long-term water security.
The City of Tshwane has confirmed that it has received questions, but has not yet responded.
However, Tshwane’s draft Integrated Development Plan (IDP) for 2026/27 aims for 90% Green Drop compliance. Initiatives include accelerated upgrading of Rooiwal wastewater works; maintenance and refurbishment of critical assets; expansion of the “War on Leaks” program; and building internal technical capacity.
The metro’s water and sanitation budget will rise from R721 million in 2026/27 to R1.37 billion by 2028/29.
Major awards include Rooiwal, Ekangala, Sunderland Ridge and Baviaanspoort plants; and replacement of sewers and upgrading of pumping stations.
Long-term projects include:
- R530 million for a complete upgrade of Rooiwal
- R759 million for Magalies and Klipdrift plants
- R8.5 billion for a new waste water system (starting in 2015, completion planned for 2029)
Eleven years later, however, this project has not yet progressed beyond feasibility studies.
- This reported was originally posted by GroundUp and is used with permission.