As the Go, we were recently invited by national television channel Newzroom Afrika to narrate the Buffalo City metro’s (BCM) broken, dysfunctional, and unsecured sewage treatment plants in key areas.
Our exposé, titled “Dereliction and Danger,” published before the December shutdown, trended last week after Newzroom Afrika tested samples purportedly from BCM sites.
It was deeply rewarding for our team to see our work amplified by a national platform with far wider reach, ensuring the story reaches those who can drive real change for our people.
As media watchdogs, we hold a responsibility to expose stories that impact our communities’ livelihoods.
Every piece we publish aims to make a tangible difference.
That’s why this story mattered so much.
Since our report, BCM mayor Princess Faku has pledged to turn things around.
The Go lifted the lid on rampant vandalism, cable theft, and non-operational processes spilling raw sewage into the Buffalo River.
We presented evidence of stripped infrastructure and official neglect, painting a dire public health picture, with experts warning of ecological collapse.
The mayor responded that BCM maintains separate drinking and wastewater systems, ensuring no sewage reaches taps (see page 1).
She noted intensified monitoring at treatment plants, with raw water tests consistently meeting national standards.
She also committed to action saying that upgrades at Zwelitsha were advancing, with major works completed and full compliance targeted by December 2026.
She said Schornville’s sewage flows are being diverted to Zwelitsha, and a tender is underway for 12-month construction.
The mayor pledged R500m investment over three years to refurbish and secure these critical sites with surveillance, and implement access controls — among other things.
Kudos to Faku for these steps, we hope to see real differences soon and will document them, giving credit where it’s due.
Thank you, mayor.
Letters to the editor: your voice matters
The Go team is reviving letters to the editor feature to give you, our readers, a direct voice in content creation.
This paper belongs to the East London community and what better way to ensure the public has its say?
We’ll publish only fair, respectful content, and our reporters will follow up on promising leads.
Use this platform to expose or discuss any topic of interest to you and others. We look forward to hearing from you, Go readers. Please send your letters to: PilisoM@goexpress.co.za
— Mfundo Piliso, GO! & Express news editor
As media watchdogs, we hold a responsibility to expose stories that impact our communities’ livelihoods. Every piece we publish aims to make a tangible difference
