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Water quality the focus of international Summer School

01 April 2019 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Sonia Small

Water is a basic resource upon which communities rely for their health, well-being, and economic development and growth. Many countries struggle with the negative consequences of poor surface-water quality, which may threaten their food security and livelihoods.

The Centre for Environmental Management at the University of the Free State recently co-presented the German-Southern African Summer School 2019 with the Dresden University, Germany, on its Bloemfontein Campus.

Discussions at the Summer School – attended by 66 delegates from Germany and Southern Africa – mainly focused on aquatic biomonitoring and included perspectives from Germany and Southern Africa.

Questions such as ‘How to improve water quality?’ and ‘What about the impact of the catchment area, land use, and agriculture on water quality?’ were discussed.

According to Marinda Avenant, Lecturer in the Centre for Environmental Management, a two-pronged approach is often used: first, ecosystem-based biomonitoring, and second, specialised water quality and toxicity-assessment methods applied at specific sites in order to identify problems.

Presenters from academia, government authorities, and the private sector shared theoretical concepts and practical experiences of establishing aquatic biomonitoring networks in Germany, South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini (Swaziland), and Zambia.

The Summer School focused on an integrated approach, including catchment processes, hydrology, geomorphology, and land use, as well as chemical and biological monitoring.

Delegates also undertook a field trip to Mokala National Park for a practical demonstration of water-quality monitoring as part of the programme.

The Volkswagen Foundation (Germany) funded the Summer School.

News Archive

Protest actions planned for 12-14 March 2008

2008-03-13

Three protest actions will take place on the Main Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS) in Bloemfontein this week.

Although the interim court interdict granted to the UFS on 6 March 2008 is still in force, permission for the three protests was granted by the Mangaung Local Municipality and the court, in the presence of the university lawyer. Strict conditions have been set for these protest actions.

The UFS management respects the right to peaceful protest and also shares the sentiment of the protesters regarding the reprehensible Reitz video. However, strict conditions have been set for these protest actions as students are writing tests and the normal academic activities should not be disrupted.

Already the first picket protest took place today, Wednesday, 12 March 2008, by about 300 Satawu and Nehawu members. This was not a march and no memorandum was handed over.

On Thursday, 13 March 2008, Nehawu will again picket in front of the Main Building from 13:00 to 14:00. This event must be peaceful. This too is not a march and no memorandum will be handed over.

On Friday, 14 March 2008, a march of Cosatu and Nehawu will take place, starting in the city centre. The march will enter through the Nelson Mandela Drive gate and will enter the campus grounds.

However, it will be limited to the incoming lane of Chancellors Avenue from the Main Gate to the crossing with Alumni Avenue (in front of the Odeion building). Speeches will be made and a memorandum will be handed over.

It is expected that the march will reach the campus at approximately 10:00 and from then the Nelson Mandela Gate to the UFS will be closed for all traffic. The march must end by 14:00. The marchers will return to the city centre and may cause a traffic problem in Nelson Mandela Drive.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) and the UFS’s Protection Services Division will monitor all these actions. Staff, students and visitors to the campus are kindly requested to use alternative gates to the Nelson Mandela entrance on Friday. Academic activities will continue as normal this week.

Media Release
Issued by: Anton Fisher
Director: Strategic Communication
Tel: 051 401 3422
Cell: 072 207 8334
E-mail: fishera.stg@ufs.ac.za
12 March 2008

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