daniel chigunwe
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
Water experts from Vhembe District Municipality have cleared the water in the Limpopo River from contamination following laboratory tests of samples from the river that forms a boundary between South Africa and Zimbabwe.
The two countries’ towns of Musina and Beitbridge draw their domestic water from the same river.
Full-scale investigations were initiated last week by authorities from the two countries after an unknown green substance was seen along the Limpopo River last week.
Vhembe district municipality covers Musina; Collins Chabane; Thulamela and Makhado in the Limpopo Province.
In a public notice on Saturday, the municipality said, “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. However, the testing of water quality will continue to be conducted on a weekly basis to determine any contamination in the near future.”
Beitbridge (Zimbabwe) chairperson of the local civil protection committee, Mrs Sikhangezile Mafu, who is also the District Development Coordinator, said tests by water experts were pending.
She said they expect the results to be announced anytime soon. At the moment, she said, dam 1 that supplies Beitbridge urban with water is not contaminated for now.
The town draws most of its water from Zhovhe Dam, which is fed by the Limpopo River via Umzingwane River.
Water from the Limpopo is usually stored in Dam 1 before purification and is supplied to local residents and institutions.
Online Reporter