The following speech was delivered by the City of Cape Town’s Executive Mayor, Patricia de Lille (top photograph), at the full Council meeting on 27 July 2017: I would like to welcome all councillors back from the mid-year recess. I trust that we are ready to continue taking service delivery to the next level. Let me start with the drought crisis and yes, despite the … [Read more...]
50 000 litres of sewage flow into SA’s rivers every second
South Africa’s municipal sewage system has largely collapsed. Of the 824 treatment plants, maybe only 60 release clean water. Raw or partially treated sewage flows into rivers throughout the country, turning dams green and killing people who drink the polluted water. From big metros such as Johannesburg to towns like Villiers in the Free State, what is flushed down the … [Read more...]
How green is your restaurant?
Do you know what the footprint is of the restaurant you support? Launched last year as a first for South Africa, the Eat Out Woolworths Sustainability Award acknowledges a restaurant that brings its customers seasonal, local and responsibly produced food. “We launched the award to acknowledge the inspiring work that is already being done in the hospitality sector, and to … [Read more...]
Cape Town adopts “precautionary approach” to underground water tunnels
The City of Cape Town has responded to a video filmed by vlogger Adam Spires in which he explored the city’s underground tunnels and claimed to have discovered that almost 7 billion litres of water appears to run through the tunnels and out into the sea where it goes to waste. The City said it has been aware of these springs off the Table Mountain range and has been … [Read more...]
Planned Mpumalanga coal mine will devastate water hotspot
Yesterday, a coalition of eight civil society and community organisations launched proceedings in the Pretoria High Court against Indian owned mining company Atha-Africa Ventures Pty Ltd. The coalition is asking the High Court to stop the mining company from commencing with any mining or related activities inside the Mabola Protected Environment outside Wakkerstroom in … [Read more...]
Once again, climate change cited as trigger for conflict
The national security establishment needs to prepare for a series of global crises sparked by climate change, a group of experts wrote in a report released today. The analysis by the Center for Climate and Security identifies 12 “epicenters” where climate change could stress global security, possibly igniting conflicts around the world. American diplomats and military … [Read more...]
De Lille to address Cape Town drought intervention plans
The mayor of Cape Town, Patricia de Lille, will join a panel discussion on Tuesday to discuss the city's interventions in the metro's drought crisis. De Lille will address the Climate Change Coalition at Green Point Urban Park, and will also discuss the city's stance on climate change, and the risks associated as a water-scarce city. The event will take place at the … [Read more...]
Living on water: are waterborne cities more resistant to climate change?
By the year 2050 about 70% of the world's population of 10 billion people will be living in cities, according to the United Nations. The question is, will there be enough land to go around? Not according to Jason Pomeroy -- founder of Singapore-based green architecture firm Pomeroy Studio -- who believes that due to climate change and rising sea levels, humans will be forced … [Read more...]
Shale gas fracking in Karoo gets a green light
The government has given the go-ahead for shale gas development in the Karoo region, Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane said on Thursday. He revealed this during a community engagement on shale gas development in Richmond, in the Northern Cape. "Based on the balance of available scientific evidence, government took a decision to proceed with the development of … [Read more...]
No accounting for water millions while poor KZN residents struggle
While thousands of residents in rural northern KwaZulu-Natal struggle daily to get water, the Umkhanyakude municipality has squandered nearly R1-billion, some of it earmarked for water projects. Auditor-General Kimi Makwetu has slated the district municipality in a report leaked to The Times. Among the findings are that the municipality did not know the location of … [Read more...]
Forgotten tunnels could provide the answer to Cape Town water shortage
As I sit in traffic during Cape Town’s busy rush hour, it’s difficult to imagine that running beneath this city of approximately 3.75 million are hundreds of kilometers of underground brick tunnels, tunnels that transport millions of liters of fresh spring water from Table Mountain directly out into the sea. The mountains that overlook this beautiful city were once its … [Read more...]
Solving SA’s water crisis is an ongoing job
The current drought may have brought water scarcity into the spotlight, but in truth, South Africa has been in crisis a lot longer. Clean and safe drinking water is still inaccessible to millions of South Africans. This World Water Day, on Wednesday 22 March, the Rotary SafeWater Project will be installing two community water filtration units and 30 household units at … [Read more...]
Edna Molewa’s defence of her decision on Atha Africa Ventures is inaccurate
Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa’s opinion piece published on March 11 is understandably defensive. She is the first minister of environmental affairs to have given approval for a coal mine inside a declared protected area. Her decision has been widely criticised by civil society organisations and in the media, and she will soon have to answer for her decision in … [Read more...]
