Capturing Water

Capturing Water delves into Cape Town’s escalating water crisis, a growing emergency in recent years. As pollution of natural water sources worsens and industrial and urban developments threaten access to clean water, government responses remain inadequate.

The documentary follows the struggles of activists fighting for their communities: working-class residents mobilising against a city that cuts off their water without consultation, a farmer taking legal action to prevent an aquifer from being cemented over, and a suburban activist tirelessly pushing for action against sewage pollution in fragile wetlands. Through in-depth interviews with academics, activists, farmers, community leaders, and Cape Town’s mayor, the film exposes how the water crisis is deeply entangled with capitalism, colonialism, and climate change. It reveals how power and policy often serve economic interests at the expense of communities that depend on vital water resources.

With compelling testimonies and footage of grassroots movements such as the African Water Commons Collective and Rethink the Stink, Capturing Water tells an inspiring story of resistance and hope. The film not only highlights the urgency of the water crisis but also provides insights into what must be done to reverse the situation.