Rietvlei Nature Reserve, one of Pretoria’s treasured water and wildlife assets, is facing a dual threat: rising water pollution and persistent cable theft that threatens the reserve’s infrastructure and water security.
Visitors and residents have expressed growing concern over deteriorating water quality, while civic leaders are calling attention to ongoing delays in addressing cable theft.
Peter Ruddle, chairperson of The Friends of Rietvlei, explained that the surge in water pollution is part of an ongoing problem that resurfaces during certain periods of the year.
“Last year this time we experienced the same issue. During the summer, the smell and foam was not noticeable, this no doubt was because the river water was diluted due to the heavy summer rains,” he said.
Ruddle pointed to urban development around Pretoria as a significant contributor to pollution.
“As urban development takes place, the threat will always become greater if urban pollution is not managed correctly. It is an inevitable risk if measures are not in place to control runoff and sewage discharge,” he explained.
While he suspects sewage or wastewater leakage from the Ekurhuleni Water Treatment and Sewerage Works might be partly responsible, he acknowledged that concrete proof is lacking.
The environmental implications of the pollution are yet to fully emerge.
Ruddle noted, “To the best of my knowledge, there has been no noticeable impact on fish, birdlife, or other aquatic biodiversity at this stage”.
Rietvlei Nature Reserve
Emergency measures appear limited, with no specific interventions currently in place to curb the latest spike.
Nevertheless, the surge may have wider consequences for Pretoria residents.
“I believe this led to an algae bloom last year, which affected the quantity of water made available from the Rietvlei Waterworks to the city. I presume the water quality was safe for human consumption,” he said.
Local communities and visitors have a role to play in mitigating the problem, though solutions are expected to be expensive.
“It has been discussed at a meeting at the Pretoria Yacht Club, as the water quality affects their club activities. Numerous specialists have been consulted, but the solutions are going to be costly,” he remarked.
Long-term strategies remain uncertain, but he believes that as the problem worsens, broader attention and funding may emerge to restore water quality.
From the metro’s perspective, the source of the pollution lies upstream.
Lindela Mashigo, metro spokesperson, said, “The pollution originates from upstream and not exactly at Rietvlei.”
Recent sampling conducted at the bridge marking Tshwane’s border with Ekurhuleni confirmed sewage contamination.
“A sample was taken on the bridge during an investigation at the entry point to Tshwane from Ekurhuleni. The results indicated pollution by sewage,” Mashigo said.
Measures to tackle the problem have so far been limited to informing Ekurhuleni Municipality’s Pollution Control team for further investigation.
Mashigo confirmed that the city has no current projects aimed at improving water quality in the reserve.
Cross-border pollution cases are referred to the National Department of Water and Sanitation, which co-ordinates enforcement and intervention.
“All cross-border pollution incidents are referred to the National Department of Water and Sanitation for intervention,” he explained.
While pollution continues to present an environmental and public health challenge, cable theft has emerged as a parallel crisis at Rietvlei and Rietfontein.
Councillor Ally Makafula, DA Tshwane Spokesperson for Community Safety, expressed frustration over delays in acting on whistleblower information in connection with cable theft.
“The metro received information from a whistleblower as far back as February this year, implicating an individual in both identity fraud as well as the cable theft that has been plaguing areas around Rietvlei,” Makafula said.
Despite the recent arrest of a metro employee for identity fraud, Makafula pointed out that it took seven months for the metro to act on the allegations and investigate links to a cable theft syndicate affecting the reserve and the quality of the water.
“The metro’s handling of the ongoing cable theft crisis is nothing short of a disgrace. Power supply to the Rietvlei boreholes has been vandalised, not once, but twice. This crippled the metro’s ability to pump and sell water, causing millions of rands in lost revenue,” he said.
The DA called on the metro to use the opportunity presented by the arrest to address cable theft fully and ensure the protection of critical infrastructure.
From the municipal perspective, Mashigo emphasised that allegations of criminality, including cable theft, are referred to law enforcement agencies for investigation.
“The metro wishes to reaffirm that matters of alleged criminality, including those linked to identity fraud and cable theft, fall squarely within the Justice, Correctional Services, Police and Security Cluster. Once allegations are formally lodged and evidence is gathered, they are referred to law enforcement agencies, which conduct investigations guided by due legal processes,” he said.
Mashigo stressed that the municipality must operate within the framework of labour law and legal protocol to avoid compromising investigations.
“While the city understands the frustrations linked to cable theft and service disruptions, the municipality’s interventions must be both legally defensible and procedurally sound to ensure accountability that can stand in a court of law. In the interim, the city continues to strengthen its infrastructure protection strategies, including closer collaboration with law enforcement,” she added.
The combined impact of pollution and cable theft underscores the challenges of managing urban nature reserves in rapidly developing regions.
Community engagement, vigilance, and sustained municipal action remain crucial to ensure that Rietvlei Nature Reserve can continue to serve both ecological and human needs.
For now, the Friends of Rietvlei and other stakeholders continue to seek practical, cost-effective solutions, while urging swift and coordinated municipal action against both environmental pollution and criminal activity.
Ruddle said: “As the problem gets worse, I am sure there will be greater concern, and the Friends of Rietvlei are but one of the parties looking for affordable solutions.”
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