Ten percent of South Africa’s land area, mostly in the high mountain catchments along the eastern escarpment, generates 50% of the volume of water in all our river systems. This was identified in a substantial research document produced in 2013 by WWF-SA, the Water Research Commission and the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research, which [...]
Out of struggle comes growth, and the creators of Hlakanyana - a musical drama in the making – believe it has all the ingredients to be a socially relevant hit. Hlakanyana - a cunning, unethical creature, depicted in animal or human form - is one of the best known characters in African folklore, and, despite [...]
The origins of human self-awareness and development have been traced to South Africa’s Cape south coast. The images, human footprints and animal tracks found by scientists on South Africa’s Cape south coast are unique. Nothing like this exists anywhere else in the world. “We can, with increased confidence, say welcome home, Homo sapiens,” says [...]
The coronavirus has highlighted the need for South Africa to manufacture life-saving drugs. “We have done a huge amount of research into new ways of manufacturing generic life-saving medications in South Africa, specifically for AIDS, TB, malaria, cancer and influenza,” says Professor Paul Watts, holder of the SARChI Chair in Microfluidic Bio/Chemical Processing at Nelson [...]
Many drug ingredient makers in China remain shut or have cut their output. This is a huge problem, not only for us, but for all countries worldwide. The Covid-19 pandemic has shown the need for South Africa to manufacture life-saving drugs. “We have done a huge amount of research into new ways of manufacturing [...]
Only one elephant remains in the Knysna forest and surrounding fynbos: a mature female. There is enormous pathos and tragedy in this finding as she is the last truly wild, free roaming elephant in South Africa and the southernmost in the world. The finding was recently published in a scientific article titled And Then There [...]
“India is rapidly gearing up its blue economy and its ocean sciences research,” says Hyderabad-based Dr Satheesh Shenoi, director of the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, and co-chairperson of the IIOE-2 steering committee. “We are building more ports and harbours so that many more goods can be transported by ship, which is far [...]
Bottlenose and common dolphins, the endangered Indian Ocean humpback dolphin, southern right, humpback and Bryde’s whales, South Africa has them all, and people come from all over the world to experience them up close in the oceans off our south-east coastline, where boat-based whale-watching operators offer up close encounters with our dolphins and whales. Over [...]
You can see the first light of day on the tips of the cattle’s horns; you can hear the downtown hustle and the chants of the Xhosa ancestors; you can feel the rolling rhythms of the Eastern Cape; you can touch the world through its folds: London, Paris, Milan, New York, Berlin, Amsterdam, Oslo, Tokyo, [...]
He was a gigantic, unsung character with unsurpassed knowledge and understanding of South African plant species, veld types and veld management. Landbou Weekblad salutes South African botanist and man of the veld, the late great John Acocks. By Heather Dugmore In the Footsteps of Acocks is the working title of a book about the contributions [...]
