Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Categories
UFS News Media Release Research
Years
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Months
January February March April May June July August September October November December
Previous Archive
09 November 2018 | Story Charlene Stanley | Photo Charlene Stanley
Our Relentless Water Dilemma
Dr Tseliso Ntili, HOD of the Free State Department of Water and Sanitation, warns that pollution caused by mismanagement of municipal water-treatment works puts severe pressure on the province’s water security.

“Despite our water challenges, Bloemfontein will never become a second Cape Town.” This firm assurance was given by Dr Tseliso Ntili, HOD of the Free State Department of Water and Sanitation, during his presentation at the recent regional seminar of the Faculty of Law’s Environmental Law Association.

The theme of the seminar was Water Quality and Water Security in Bloemfontein and was attended by staff and students from the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, as well as relevant role players from private, business, and government sectors.

Not enough water for city’s needs

Water restrictions in some form do seem to remain part of our future landscape though, as Dr Ntsili explained that the city’s current water yield of 218 megalitres per day still fell short of the demand of 259 megalitres per day.
 
Pollution and mismanagement at municipal level

He pointed out that a big cause for concern was that 75% of the Free State’s waste-water treatment works were dysfunctional. Housekeeping and security at these plants are often severely neglected. Yet, it is difficult for the Department of Water and Sanitation to act against offending municipalities.

“In intra-governmental disputes, the courts must be satisfied that organs of state have taken all reasonable steps to settle contentions – which can be a time-consuming process,” he explained.

Dr Ntsili said that the Caledon River System’s dwindling water levels due to low rainfall and siltation was also a concern, but that plans were underway to supplement the water supply to Bloemfontein via the Gariep Dam by 2026.

However, he warned that poor water management could drastically affect these long-term plans.

“If we can’t manage pollution, the cost will be high. Water security will be challenged, and we will have water shortages – not because of drought, but because of negligence.” 

News Archive

Kovsie student translates and interprets between English and Mandarin
2012-11-14

Chen-Shu
14 November 2012

When television channel e.tv recently interviewed successful Chinese businesspersons in South Africa and Tanzania, they turned to Kovsie student Chen-Shu Fang to translate from English into Mandarin. Chen-Shu, who has completed a BA Honours in Linguistics, is the first student in the Department of Linguistics and Language Practice translating and interpreting between English and Mandarin.

Born in Taiwan, Chen-Shu started her high-school education in South Africa in 1997 and matriculated in 2001. She completed a Bachelor’s degree in Taiwan, but returned to South Africa in 2011, enrolling for studies in the Department of Linguistics and Language Practice. After completing her honours degree in June 2012, Chen-Shu decided to also enrol for the practical honours module in Translation Studies in preparation of her Master’s degree next year.

“I have some background knowledge in linguistics, but during my studies at the UFS, I discovered an interest in interpreting and translation. Therefore, I changed my main focus from Linguistics to Language Practice,”says Chen-Shu.

This year, Chen-Shu also started offering translation and interpretation services. Her first interpreting brief from the Unit for Language Facilitation and Empowerment (ELFE) at the UFS was for Dairy Belle where she had to interpret for a technician from China. She furthermore assists in the translation of the website of Hsiang Chun Orchid Garden, a Bloemfontein-based company (www.hcorchids.co.za).

“I have a great interest in translation, and would also like to offer my language skills and knowledge gained in this course to the Mandarin-speaking community in Bloemfontein. This degree has given me the opportunity to practise and enhance the necessary language practice skills. ”

On assessing Chen-Shu’s translations, an external marker for Mandarin from Rhodes University commented as follows on our department’s course: “I am impressed by your generous and relaxed attitude towards such a diverse group of students, so that they can actually follow a translation course and develop translation skills within their own, unique context”.

 

 


 

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept