Dr Jo Barnes, Senior Lecturer Emeritus at Stellenbosch University, speaks to Lester Kiewit about Cape Town’s ongoing water contamination challenges. Drawing on new peer-reviewed research, she explains how “contaminant denialism” — including withholding data, misrepresenting science, and ignoring water flow dynamics — has hindered transparency and public health protections. The conversation explores the impact of outdated infrastructure, political and economic pressures, and the urgent need for independent oversight and predictive modeling to improve water quality management. This research sheds light on a decade-long dispute between scientific evidence and official public communication in Cape Town.

Read the full study here: Contaminant denialism in water governance (AGU Journals)

Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit is a podcast of the CapeTalk breakfast show. 

This programme is your authentic Cape Town wake-up call. Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit is informative, enlightening and accessible. The team’s ability to spot & share relevant and unusual stories make the programme inclusive and thought-provoking. Don’t miss the popular World View feature at 7:45am daily. 

Listen out for #LesterInYourLounge which is an outside broadcast – from the home of a listener in a different part of Cape Town - on the first Wednesday of every month. This show introduces you to interesting Capetonians as well as their favourite communities, habits, local personalities and neighbourhood news. 

Thank you for listening to a podcast from Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit. 

Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays between 06:00 and 09:00 (SA Time) to Good Morning CapeTalk with Lester Kiewit broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk 

For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/xGkqLbT or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/f9Eeb7i 

Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 
 
Follow us on social media 
 
CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk 
CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk 
CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ 
CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk 
CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567