The Vaal River has been described as an open sewer, most frequently by people who live on its banks, despite protestations to the contrary by the department of water & sanitation.
Links:
[1] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/news/sa-faces-water-catastrophe-state-dithers
[2] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/newspaper/business-day-south-africa
[3] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/water-supply
[4] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/drinking-water
[5] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/south-africa
[6] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/drinking-water-scarcity
[7] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/water-pollution
[8] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/sewage-pollution
[9] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/africa