Gauteng says it is working to fix Vaal River ecosystem

The Vaal River, which about 19 million people depend on for drinking, domestic and commercial use, is polluted beyond acceptable standards. The cause is the kiloliters of untreated sewage entering the Vaal because of inoperative and dilapidated wastewater treatment plants.
These treatment plants have been unable to properly process the sewage and other wastewater produced in Emfuleni, as well as the sewage and other wastewater from the City of Johannesburg and the Mid-vaal Municipality.
The consequence is that the pollution is affecting natural ecosystems directly dependent on the water in and from the Vaal. The population of Yellowfish – peculiar to a few SA rivers such as the Vaal – are under threat of extinction on account of the change to the balance of river flora and other competing species in the river caused by pollution of the Vaal. Livestock that consume water from the Vaal have reportedly died.
Apart from the long-term effects of pollution of the water source on life, there are concerns relating to the negative effects the pollution has had on the economy. There has been a decrease in tourist and recreational activities on the river due to the severity of the pollution on the river.

[Source: Timeslive.co.za] 

[Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Trichardt]

Coordinates: 23° 3′ 0″ S, 29° 54′ 0″ E Louis Trichardt has a subtropical climate.
The winters are characterised by mild afternoons and cool evenings.
Winters usually last from June to August.
Summers experience warm and often humid temperatures with the occasional afternoon thunderstorm.
Most of Louis Trichardt's rainfall occurs in the summer months, from November to March.
The last few years have seen some water restrictions put in place by the municipality mainly due to drought in the area and lack of maintenance of the town's water supply system by the municipality.