On 1 October 2026, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) launched the National Pollution Register, a public‑facing database that records enforcement actions against polluters of South Africa’s rivers, dams and municipal catchments.

The register lists entities that have:

• Received directives or pre‑directives from DWS.

• Been convicted of offences under the National Water Act.

• Been ordered by courts to pay damages or fund remediation.

Deputy Minister Dr Jack Bloom marked the launch with oversight visits to Gauteng facilities, including the Hartebeestfontein Wastewater Treatment Works and the Rietvlei Water Treatment Plant, to show how upstream sewage and industrial discharge affect downstream supply.

Civil society groups such as WaterCAN welcomed the register as a long‑called‑for “name‑and‑shame” tool. They emphasise that its success depends on strict enforcement, including preventing repeat offenders from continuing to do business with state organs.

For Joburg readers, the register offers practical value:

• Citizens and ratepayers gain verified evidence to hold local councils accountable when sewage spills or failing infrastructure threaten neighbourhoods and rivers.

• Businesses and industrial operators face heightened public scrutiny. Companies discharging waste without authorisation risk being permanently recorded on a government registry.

The South African Human Rights Commission has previously linked wastewater failures to violations of rights to dignity, health and a safe environment. Publishing enforcement records is a step toward transparency, but communities will be watching closely to see whether penalties lead to real repairs.

The Bottom Line

South Africans now have a tool to see who is polluting their water. Its impact will depend on consistent prosecution, infrastructure fixes and strict enforcement of court‑ordered penalties.