Today is World Water Day. South Africa’s water security continues to be vulnerable and has again come into focus following the findings of a UN report warning that global water scarcity is increasing. National Water Week, overlapping Human Rights Day and World Water Day, is serving to highlight findings in the United Nations World Water Development Report 2019 (WWDR) which … [Read more...]
Public invited to comment on Cape Town’s draft water strategy
The City of Cape Town’s Draft Water Strategy is open for public comments and recommendations. The metro explained that the primary purpose of this strategy is to ensure that city is more resilient to future droughts. The draft strategy outlines the City’s plan to ensure greater water security over the next 10 years and a move towards being a more water-sensitive city in … [Read more...]
Which party to vote for our children?
Our short month ends with political parties’ manifestos being published for all to see. First thing I look for has to be how will they preserve our habitat so that our and all children can make a future here? No matter how much the focus zones into other matters, if we don’t have sufficient and clean water, food and renewable energy all that talk will be wasted, for we … [Read more...]
Annual fest seeks to educate on wetlands and water birds
The main purpose of the Flufftail Festival, held in Joburg earlier this month, is to teach people of all ages about the importance of conserving water, wetlands and waterbirds. On 8 and 9 February 2019 BirdLife South Africa, in partnership with Rand Water (Water Wise), Toyota, the Rare Finch Conservation Group and Joburg City Parks and Zoo, hosted the annual Flufftail … [Read more...]
Cape Town museum depicts global water story
Water is the most vital resource for life on Earth and no living thing exists without it. The global water story exhibition, H2O Today, examines the diversity and challenges of water sources worldwide and promote conversation, creativity and innovation through art, science and technology. The exhibition is now on at the Iziko South African Museum in Cape Town. An … [Read more...]
Shock judgement in KwaZulu-Natal coal mining case
The incomprehensible judgement handed down by the Pietermaritzburg High Court yesterday morning dismissed with costs the application by Sabelo Dladla, the Global Environmental Trust (GET) and Mfolozi Community Environmental Justice Organisation (MCEJO). This will not go unchallenged. In essence, the applicants approached the High Court when their attorney found the mine had … [Read more...]
Cape Town relying on water saving to prevent another day zero
Cape Town citizens are encouraged to keep saving water until the City finalises a long-term plan to ensure water security. That despite the announcement of Deputy Mayor, Ian Neilson, to move water restrictions from Level 6B to Level 5 from the 1st of October 2018. But will this be enough to prevent Cape Town from another Day Zero scare? 2015 and 2016 saw 2 consecutive years … [Read more...]
KZN rural school’s water team heads to London
Six of South Africa’s top Water Explorer teams recently gathered at Umgeni Valley in Howick to present their inspiring water saving efforts to an expert panel. The incredible teams included Mjila Primary, Chelsea Preparatory, Port Shepstone Junior Primary, Home School Amazing Gig, Ebomvini Primary and Shea O’Connor Combined School, each with their own unique story of how they … [Read more...]
Happy days when your rainwater tanks are full
During last summer's drought, the price of rainwater tanks shot up. Business was booming. You could see trucks full of tanks all over the place. Good for a green heart who’s been promoting rainwater harvesting forever. We reached for second hand tanks, reconditioned oil drums – looking for the best value for money. Then a newby arrived on the market. A portable tank, … [Read more...]
Public asked for help as Ladismith water shortage hits local farmers
Ladismith, a small town in the Western Cape, is currently being ravaged by drought. After four years with no proper rainfall the town is being supplied with borehole water because the dam is empty. Local farmers in the surrounding areas are really battling. Deon Smit has very kindly offered to bring donated fodder to the area so local farm animals can survive, but he needs … [Read more...]
Urgent action needed to remedy South Africa’s water crisis
In 2002 South Africa officially became a water constrained economy, when the National Water Resource Strategy reported that we had allocated 98% of our total water resource. Subsequent high confidence studies have shown that we over-estimated the water available at the time, so in short, we have allocated all the water that we have. This means that we are simply unable to grow … [Read more...]
Africa’s pollution crisis warning: step up to avoid environmental disaster
As the second most polluted continent, Africa must take both the responsibility and opportunity to pioneer world-leading waste management methods to avoid an environmental and socio-economic disaster, experts warn. This was the message from environmental scientist Dr Tony Ribbink, who was speaking at the annual general meeting of the PET Recycling Company (PETCO) at the … [Read more...]
Ecological Infrastructure for Water Security project launched in Joburg
The Minister of Environmental Affairs Dr Edna Molewa and the Minister of Water and Sanitation Gugile Nkwinti will be at the launch of an $7.2 million (approximately R90 million) worth Ecological Infrastructure for Water Security project in Johannesburg on Thursday, 31 May 2018. This five year investment from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) together with considerable … [Read more...]
