South Africa wastewater systems collapse: raw sewage in most metros, Green Drop shows

South Africa's Green Drop report reveals widespread deterioration of wastewater treatment across major metros from 2021 to 2024, with eThekwini, Tshwane, and Buffalo City falling to 'very poor' or 'critical' levels. Only Ekurhuleni retains a 'good' rating, while Mangaung shows slight improvement. Raw sewage flowing into rivers and drinking water sources signals a systemic infrastructure failure driven by ageing assets, vandalism, and funding shortfalls, posing public health and environmental risks.