Johannesburg: Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Dr. Jack Bloom, has outlined plans to turn South Africa's wastewater into low-cost fertiliser and irrigation water for emerging farmers, as the agricultural sector grapples with drought and rising global fertiliser prices. Addressing delegates at NAMPO Cape, currently underway at Bredasdorp Park, Bloom highlighted the potential of nearly 640,000 dry tonnes of municipal wastewater treatment sludge produced annually from large wastewater treatment plants, with an additional 378,000 to 567,000 tonnes from smaller plants and pit toilets.
According to South African Government News Agency, the material is currently largely treated as waste for disposal, despite its potential as an agricultural resource. Bloom emphasized, "This is not a stockpile. It is a fertiliser factory's worth of raw material, going into the ground instead of onto your fields every single year." The Department of Water and Sanitation referred to safety data from Water Research Commission trials at Bishopstowe and Appelsbosch farms in KwaZulu-Natal, demonstrating that E. coli counts on harvested crops were roughly 1,000 times below the legal safety threshold for food crops.
Bloom pointed to a successful local example in Pietermaritzburg, where a partnership involving Msunduzi Municipality, uMngeni-Uthukela Water, the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and private company Duzi Turf converts wastewater sludge and green waste into compost. This compost is registered with the Department of Agriculture and sold to farmers and landscapers. Additionally, the department is piloting the conversion of the Esther Park Wastewater Treatment Works into a dedicated faecal sludge treatment plant in partnership with the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the Ekurhuleni Water Care Company (ERWAT).
Municipalities have been legally required since 2022 to divert sludge away from landfill sites towards facilities that treat it for beneficial use, in line with norms and standards gazetted by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. Bloom stated that this move can help reduce waste disposal while creating additional resources for agriculture. He called on Grain SA and emerging farmers to help identify suitable locations for future pilot projects, emphasizing the push towards decentralised treatment near farming towns.
NAMPO Cape 2026, held in Bredasdorp from 9 to 12 September 2026, brings together farmers, agribusinesses, researchers, service providers, and communities from across the agricultural value chain. Held under the theme: 'Together We Grow', this year's expo celebrates the partnerships between farmers, industry, and communities that continue to drive South African agriculture forward. Visitors have access to more than 500 exhibitors showcasing the latest agricultural technology, products, services, and innovations.