A fish from the tap? A South African town's water crisis escalates

A resident of Komatipoort in South Africa turned on the tap in her kitchen and noticed a living fish coming out of it. However, this woman and her neighbours are not amused. In the Nkomazi municipality, popular among tourists, to which Komatipoort belongs, there is an ongoing "sewage crisis". Appeals to the authorities have been ineffective.

"Although tiny, it was unmistakably alive and well," said Lene Roux, the chairperson of the Komatipoort Concerned Residents Association. The fish emerged from her tap.

For the residents of Komatipoort, the incident with the fish was not funny, as they have been dealing with sewage leaks for years, which return to their homes along with the drinking water. Everyone lives thanks to tourists, as Komatipoort is the gateway to South Africa's most famous Kruger National Park.

"The stench from the sewage spills was at times so bad that guests staying at Roux’s guest house in Komatipoort refused to eat in the dining room," Roux repeatedly complained to South African media.

Because of the contamination, one of the residential buildings was evacuated. Customers had to wade through sewage to get to the grocery store. The contamination flooded the residents' jointly cultivated vegetable garden. The Crocodile River, flowing around the town, turned into a sewage canal, and all the creatures it owes its name to escaped, commented the disillusioned tourists.

Appeals to the Nkomazi municipality authorities remained unanswered, so the Komatipoort Concerned Residents Association asked the Supreme Court for help.

The case became widely publicized and followed by the media throughout South Africa. The fish became the primary evidence to convince the court that the town's authorities must urgently repair the water supply system. The court was persuaded and, on April 21st, ordered the municipality, the municipal manager, and the mayor to take corrective steps to stop the sewage leak urgently.

The defendants must report their actions to the court within 21 days.

The deadline expires this Sunday, but the municipality has not eliminated the contamination. Desperate residents announced that they would return to court asking for permission to take over the management of sewage works and clean water supplies.