VROT River: A Community Threatened #mhlangamkulu #estuary #pollution #warning: Once known as Mhlangamkulu, the VROT River was a lifestyle for local families. Its tributaries carried fresh water, its banks supported homes, and its currents fed the environment. Today, it is a river in crisis—its green froth and foul stench a symbol of decades of neglect and abuse.
Residents tell of a nearby chicken farm, operating since the 1980s, that has allegedly pumped animal carcasses, blood, and waste directly into the Mhlangamkulu river. What was once a source of life has become a toxic channel. The water is no longer safe to touch. Boats have been pulled out, never to return. Families living along its banks report chronic illness, a direct consequence of exposure to this water. The river is no longer a place of sustenance—it is a hazard.
This is not just environmental decay; it is a human rights issue. Communities that depended on the river for food, culture, and livelihood have been robbed of their heritage. The green tinge on the water is more than pollution—it is the visible mark of systemic failure, where profit has been allowed to outweigh people’s health and dignity.
The tragedy of the VROT River is a warning. When industries are left unchecked, when waste is allowed to flow freely, the damage is not confined to nature—it spreads into homes, bodies, and futures. Accountability is overdue. The people of this river deserve clean water, justice, and restoration.
The VROT River is more than a name. It is a story of betrayal, resilience, and the urgent need for change. Communities cannot be expected to live alongside poison. The time to act is now.
Save the Mhlangamkulu!
Sardines and Sighting Maps
Here are the links to existing and past Sardine Sighting Maps. With instructions on how to install The Sardine News right on your phone, tablet, or even desktop.
Channels
Brucifire Surf Retorts – highly entertaining surf reporting
Master Watermen – news from way down deep
The Sardine News – neva miss a single sardine
FishBazaruto – 1000 pounds plus
MYDO Tackle Talk – highly technical sport fishing
Surf Launching Southern Africa – getting out there safely
Water Woes – complain about your municipality here
Websites
umzimkulu.co.za – fishing, charters, accommodation
umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za – will get you right out and onto the edge
thesardine.co.za – never miss a single sardine
masterwatermen.co.za – news from under water
fishbazaruto.com – dreams are out there
brucifire.co.za – surf retorts
fishmad.co.za – destination Madagascar
andantelodge.co.za – Transit luxury in Pretoria
