Picture: Fish kiling incindent/Facebook

By BAKANG MOKOTO

6 November 2025- The Magalies Water said there was a fish killing incident that occurred at the canal of Venice Village Estate in the Hartbeespoort Dam area on 18 October 2025. The water utility said the affected fish were buried on an unoccupied piece of land and the incident had already attracted media attention on or about 21 October 2025.

Magalies Water spokesperson, David Magae said following this incident, their team responded promptly by collecting water samples on 22 October 2025. Magae said the following day, Magalies Water, together with the Department of Water and Sanitation (Enforcement and Compliance) and the Madibeng Local Municipality, conducted a site inspection.

“No visible signs or evidence was found to indicate the cause of the fish kill and water quality results did not reveal any abnormalities in the sampled water.

“As the incident was reported three days after it occurred and water quality conditions can change rapidly, we urge the community to report fish kills immediately to Magalies Water and the Department of Water and Sanitation, as well as any accompanying visual evidence of the affected fish and the exact location,” he said.

Magae further said to date they have recorded only one fish kill case at Venice Village Estate. He added that while this incident is cause for concern and can cause public panic.

“Magalies Water advises communities to ensure that they monitor all developments pertaining to the water safety of the Hartbeespoort Dam through official communication issued by the Department of Water and Sanitation and/or Magalies Water. Since this incident, we continue with regular sampling of the raw water in the precinct of the dam and to date no further abnormalities have become apparent,” said Magae.

He said it is common cause that the current situation of the growth of the hyacinth and salvinia have an adverse effect on the amount of oxygen on the waterbody, which can also result in the death of other aquatic species, such as the fish found in the dam. Magae said, furthermore, Magalies Water has previously commented publicly on the high levels of loaded pollutants that enter the dam which also contributes to the sprawling growth of the hyacinth water plant, which brings about other challenges in the preferred conditions of the raw water in the catchment and dam.

“Work continues despite these challenges, and the Department of Water and Sanitation together with stakeholders are regularly updated on all interventions, challenges as well as mitigation measures which are designed to stall the speed at which the invasive plant is spreading over the dam.

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