Following the recent fish deaths in Hartbeespoort Dam, Magalies Water said the cause of the deaths could not be determined.

Thousands of fish died recently.

“Following this incident, the Magalies Water team responded promptly by collecting water samples on 22 October 2025, the following day. Magalies Water, together with the Department of Water and Sanitation (Enforcement and Compliance) and the Madibeng Local Municipality, conducted a site inspection. No visible signs or evidence were found to indicate the cause of the fish kill, and water quality results did not reveal any abnormalities in the sampled water,” said Magalies Water spokesperson David Magae.
“As the incident was reported three days after it occurred, and water quality conditions can change rapidly, we urge the community to report fish kills immediately to Magalies Water and the Department of Water and Sanitation. To date, we have recorded only one fish kill case at Venice Village Estate,” he said.
While this incident is a cause for concern and can cause public panic, Magalies Water advises communities to ensure that they monitor all developments pertaining to the water safety of the Hartbeespoort Dam through official communication issued by the Department of Water and Sanitation and/or Magalies Water.
“Since this incident, we have continued with regular sampling of the raw water in the precinct of the dam, and to date, no further abnormalities have become apparent. It is common cause that the current situation of the growth of hyacinth and salvinia has an adverse effect on the amount of oxygen in the water body, which can also result in the death of other aquatic species, such as the fish found in the dam.”