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Picture: Dylan Bush/Bhekisisa
Picture: Dylan Bush/Bhekisisa
  • A broken sewerage system in Bophelong near the Vaal River in Gauteng forces people to live “like pigs”, says environmental activist Lawrence Majoro.

  • The department of water & sanitation acknowledges the Vaal is “one of the worst-polluted rivers in South Africa”, leaving residents anxious about diseases like cholera.

  • In this episode of the monthly television show Health Beat, Bhekisisa takes you to see the rundown sewers in Vanderbijlpark, Emfuleni municipality. Mia Malan speaks to an infectious disease expert and a water scientist to find out how bad things can get if water treatment services don’t improve.

This story was produced by the Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism. Sign up for the newsletter. 

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