Limpopo River declared safe despite alarming colour and odour

WATER in the Limpopo River has been declared safe, despite recent panic sparked by its unusual turquoise colour and chemical stench, after experts found no signs of contamination in lab tests.

- MASABATA MKWANANZI

This comes after the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Limpopo and AfriForum raised the alarm over suspected pollution in the Limpopo River, urging an urgent investigation amid growing fears over risks to farming, drinking water, and public health.

The Vhembe District in Limpopo, which relies on the river as a source of water, has a population of over 1.6 million.

This population is spread across four local municipalities: Thulamela, Makhado, Collins Chabane, and Musina.

In a statement, AfriForum said it conducted its investigation by collecting five water samples from key sites in and around Musina.

“The samples have been submitted for urgent laboratory analysis to determine whether the water, particularly the town’s municipal drinking water, poses a health risk to local communities”