Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya
THERE’S a sigh of relief on both sides of the Limpopo River after South African water experts declared the water safe, following last week’s green scare that sent panic rippling through Musina and Beitbridge.
Authorities from both Zimbabwe and South Africa launched a full-scale probe after a mysterious green substance was spotted floating along the Limpopo River, which serves as a lifeline for the two border towns.
The latest lab tests conducted by Vhembe District Municipality have cleared the air — and the water.
“The results for the Limpopo River tested at the laboratory on the 15th of July 2025, are negative. The greenish colour inside the river was caused by algae,” said the municipality in a public notice issued Saturday. “However, the testing of water quality will continue weekly to detect any possible future contamination.”
Vhembe District covers Musina, Collins Chabane, Thulamela and Makhado in South Africa’s Limpopo Province.
On the Zimbabwean side, Beitbridge authorities are still awaiting test results, although local water sources remain unaffected for now.
District Development Coordinator and chairperson of Beitbridge’s civil protection committee, Sikhangezile Mafu, confirmed that water from Dam 1, which feeds the town, is clean. The town mainly draws water from Zhovhe Dam via the Umzingwane River.
Water from the Limpopo is typically stored in Dam 1 before purification and distribution to residents and institutions.
With both towns heavily dependent on the Limpopo’s lifeblood, weekly testing and continued vigilance remain crucial — but for now, the green scare has turned out to be just harmless algae.
