Cape Town - The Wildlife and Environment Society of SA (WESSA), which manages the Blue Flag programme in South Africa, along with political parties, have raised concerns following claims by an independent investigation that found widespread contamination of seawater along the Cape Peninsula.
Earlier this week, the Cape Argus revealed the findings by RethinkTheStink’s Project Blue, a limited, citizen-driven investigation into the seawater quality at selected beaches during November and December 2024.
The probe showed widespread contamination in Table Bay, with 42% of sampling dates exceeding safety limits for E. coli and Enterococci.
Caroline Marx, director of RethinkTheStink, said Project Blue’s sampling met international standards and was analysed by SANAS accredited laboratories.
She said the Blue Flag beaches affected were Camps Bay, including Clifton 4th Beach, Saunders’ Rock, and False Bay.
Deputy Mayor and mayco member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Eddie Andrews, said in his response that Cape Town’s Blue Flag beaches were subjected to additional water sampling by a second sea water SANAS accredited laboratory under the auspices WESSA.
In response to the findings, WESSA said water quality was one of the critical pillars of the Blue Flag certification process, with rigorous international standards governing compliance.
It covers 51 000 sites in 51 countries around the world, and findings had to be backed-up significantly.
“In the case of Cape Town, the City coordinates the regular (weekly) testing of Blue Flag beaches, and these results have consistently met the programme’s high standards. If for any reason the water quality of any Blue Flag beach does not meet the required standards, the Blue Flag is lowered,” they said.
“A follow-up sample is taken as soon as possible, and only once the re-sample comes back clear, the flag can be raised again indicating compliance.
“While we welcome citizen-led environmental monitoring initiatives like Project Blue, it is essential for such findings to be backed by robust and transparent scientific methodologies.
“Sampling procedures, timing, frequency, and laboratory processes must be detailed and made publicly available, including to WESSA and the municipalities, to ensure credibility and comparability with established protocols.
“Without these critical details, it is challenging to assess the validity of the data presented.
“It is also important to clarify that the Blue Flag programme does not ignore short-term pollution events caused by issues such as pump station breakdowns, stormwater overflows or sewage spills.”
Dave Bryant, DA Western Cape spokesperson on Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, called for transparency on the project’s findings.
“The Democratic Alliance in the Western Cape said they call on Project Blue to make public their testing samples, methodology, and additional key details to uphold transparency and ensure accurate, constructive dialogue,” said Bryant.
“These details should include the exact locations of sampling, the conditions under which samples were collected, the analysis methods and standards used, and the frequency of testing.
“Project Blue should disclose whether their findings were peer-reviewed, provide any historical data comparisons, and clarify their funding sources to address potential conflicts of interest.”
The GOOD Party also called on the City of Cape Town to engage with industry leaders, academics, medical doctors and marine conservationists regarding testing protocols at the City’s beaches.
The party revealed the project involved the partnership of Dr Jo Barnes, Senior Lecturer and Emeritus Epidemiologist at Stellenbosch University, and Professor Leslie Petrik, Professor of Chemistry at the University of the Western Cape, over November and December 2024.
Camps Bay and Clifton Ratepayers Association chairperson, Chris Willemse, earlier told Cape Argus they have advocated against the use of the Marine Outfall Plant (MOP) on Camps Bay beach for over a decade.
Dr Barnes explained how sewage pollution could impact humans, citing that it could lead to a vast array of potential disease-causing organisms and equally large group of harmful chemicals.
She added dangers to sea and plant life were just as susceptible to harm from sewage pollution as people are.