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21 June 2021 | Story Dr Patricks Voua Otomo
Dr Patricks Voua Otomo
Dr Patricks Voua Otomo is the Head of the Ecotoxicology Research Laboratory and Subject Head: Zoology and Entomology in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS).
The month of June is earmarked for the celebration of National Environment Month, with the South African government and captains of industry leading the way by stimulating awareness on environmental issues and challenging everyone to become agents for change. World Environment Day, the biggest annual event of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), is commemorated on 5 June, with the aim of galvanising positive environmental action. The University of the Free State (UFS) – through researchers from the Afromontane Research Unit (ARU) housed on the Qwaqwa Campus of the UFS – is playing its part in the fight against pollution, and especially water pollution in the eastern Free State.

The ARU initiated a research project in 2021, focusing on the assessment of the quality of local natural water resources in order to foster sustainable development in Phuthaditjhaba, and because of the recurring challenges pertaining to water quality and quantity in the Maluti-a-Phofung (MAP) Local Municipality. For the first such project focusing exclusively on pollution issues in a select Afromontane region – led by Dr Patricks Voua Otomo, Head of the Ecotoxicology Research Laboratory and Subject Head: Zoology and Entomology in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences – a vibrant team of ARU scientists and students set out to determine the ecotoxicological and bacteriological state of water resources in MAP. With the permission of MAP, ARU researchers and students were allowed access to municipal wastewater treatment plants in the towns of Phuthaditjhaba and Harrismith, and ethical clearance from the UFS permitted limited environmental sampling and laboratory testing using live organisms such as snails and earthworms.

Focusing on the quality of natural water bodies
In November 2016, Ms Portia Mosolloane (2016 honours student) presented the preliminary findings of the project at an ARU colloquium held in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park. Her work has drawn attention to potential localised incidents of terrestrial contamination linked to sewage sludge management in the region. Those early findings were published internationally, and in May 2018, Ms Mosolloane went on to present her research at the 28th Annual Meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) in Rome, Italy.

In an attempt to mitigate sewage sludge-induced soil pollution, Ms Nomasonto Dlamini (master’s student) conducted research from 2018 on the potential beneficial effects of biochar amendment on the sewage sludge as an alternative management strategy. The results revealed that mixing biochar with sewage sludge prior to open-air storage would significantly decrease the toxic effects on terrestrial organisms such as oligochaetes. This work is still ongoing, although in May 2019, Ms Dlamini presented some of her findings at the Fifth World Congress on Risk Development and Resilience in Cape Town.

From the start, an important focus of our research has been the quality of natural water bodies in our region and its ability to support life. In 2020, Ms Mosolloane graduated cum laude with a Master of Science, having successfully established that, particularly along polluted and degraded sections of our rivers, the diversity of riparian invertebrate was heavily skewed and reduced. Her work on water quality has suggested that our failing wastewater treatment plants (due to ageing, capacity overload, and poor management) are contributing to the release of pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli in the local rivers.

Mr Mbuyiselwa Moloi (a 2020 Master of Science graduate from the project) found through his research that wastewater treatment plants only contribute partially to river pollution in the region. His work, focusing on metal pollution in the Elands River (Phuthaditjhaba) and the Wilge River (Harrismith), established that although there is evidence of metal enrichment after wastewater processing by the treatment plants, some of the metal in the rivers emanates from the communities that, due to the lack of adequate refuse removal services, often dispose of their household waste directly into the rivers. Mr Moloi’s research was presented at the 2019 International Mountain Conference in Innsbruck, Austria, and was subsequently published in the International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health in 2020.

Ms Matseleng Semase (a 2020 Master of Science graduate from the project) worked on establishing whether the quality of the effluent released from the local wastewater treatment plants was conducive to supporting aquatic life. Using a snail species in the laboratory, she found that although of substandard quality, the effluent released from the treatment plants did not hamper growth and reproduction in her test organism. This pointed to the fact that corrective measures could still be taken to reduce the harmful impact of wastewater management processes on river health in the eastern Free State. Ms Semase’s work was presented at the 9th SETAC Africa Biennial Conference held in Cape Town in 2019, and her findings were submitted for publication in Environmental Science and Pollution Research.

First such project focusing exclusively on pollution issues
Some of our findings infused new life into the project, steering our work in unexpected directions. Early in the project we came to realise that there was a paucity of research focusing on pollution in mountain areas in South Africa and in Africa at large. Mr Hendrik Stander joined the project in 2019 as a master’s student. His task was to work on the development of fast and reliable behavioural testing protocols that could be used in the project. His preliminary findings were presented at the 40th annual meeting of SETAC North America in Toronto, Canada, and were subsequently published in the Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. Ms Sanele Mnkandla, who joined the project as a PhD candidate in 2020, is working on proposing water remediation strategies that could help improve the state of the rivers in the region. She recently submitted a review article on the topic for publication in Environmental Evidence. Another review article in the making and focusing on literature evidence of mountain pollution in Africa, is the brainchild of Dr Ozekeke Ogbeide, a collaborator from the University of Benin (Nigeria), who co-supervised several students and co-authored some of the scientific publications from the project.

This ongoing research, under the auspices of the ARU, is the first such project focusing exclusively on pollution issues in a select Afromontane region. With Ms Dlamini, Mr Stander, and Ms Mnkandla still actively involved in the project, we look forward to finding more answers to the environmental challenges of the eastern Free State and to working together with MAP towards environmental sustainability in the region.

News Archive

Inauguration of Prof Francis Petersen as 14th Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the UFS
2017-05-23

Description: Prof Petersen Inauguration Charl Devenish photo Tags: Prof Petersen Inauguration Charl Devenish photo

Dr Khotso Mokhele, Chancellor of the UFS, robes Prof Francis Petersen as Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the UFS.
Photo: Charl Devenish

“At the UFS, we want to produce graduates for the world, and we need to ensure that we use our knowledge to uplift society”
— Prof Francis Petersen, 14th Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the University of the Free State (UFS)

On Friday 19 May 2017, the University of the Free State (UFS) celebrated the inauguration of its 14th Vice-Chancellor and Rector, Prof Francis Petersen. The formal inauguration was held in the Odeion Theatre on the Bloemfontein Campus. The ceremony was preceded by a week-long welcoming programme on the three UFS campuses.

The guest list included representatives from local and provincial government, vice-chancellors and rectors from across South Africa, and senior members of the university’s executive management.

During the inaugural address, Prof Petersen paid tribute to his predecessors for the role they played in making the university what it is today. This included former rectors and vice-chancellors who attended the ceremony, such as Prof Francois Retief and Prof Frederick Fourie, and Prof Stef Coetzee and Prof Jonathan Jansen who were unable to attend.

Prof Petersen characterised 2015 and 2016 as watershed years for the South African higher-education system. “The Rhodes Must Fall, and subsequent Fees Must Fall student and staff protests challenged us, and re-energised a critical engagement around the purpose of the university in an equal society, both as a site of complicity and as a potential agent for social change,” said Prof Petersen.

He committed himself to developing the UFS into an institution that will have an even greater impact than before.

“This institution I am striving to establish will be one that responds positively to inclusivity, diversity, and transformation, and which can incorporate these values into our curriculum, scholarship, and research in a productive way,” said Prof Petersen.

Prof Petersen emphasised the importance of the three-campus model. “The University of the Free State is ONE university with three campuses: the Bloemfontein Campus, our South Campus, and the Qwaqwa Campus. I am committed to align the activities of the three campuses, and to integrate our activities to a greater extent.

“We must work together to infuse each campus with the values we have identified as essential if we are to make our mark as a united University of the Free State: academic excellence, diversity and inclusivity, and innovation.”

The Chancellor, Dr Khotso Mokhele, had the honour of handing over the gown to Prof Petersen. Prof Lis Lange, Vice-Rector: Academic, explained the relationship between the university and the Basotho people, and how this relationship is honoured through the official procession gowns of the UFS. The Basotho blanket is worn by kings, and the university therefore hopes that the symbolism of the gown would be a source of inspiration to Prof Petersen.

The event was concluded by congratulatory messages from former colleagues and the President of the Student Representative Council on the Bloemfontein Campus, SK Luwaca. The event was elegant and graceful – the inaugural address was thought-provoking and inspiring.

 

Official Inauguration Ceremony:

19 May 2017
Bloemfontein Campus

 Description: Official Inauguration photo small Tags: Official Inauguration photo small


"I challenge you to dream big and do big." - Prof Petersen

 

Photo Caption: Dr Khotso Mokhele, Chancellor of the UFS, robes Prof Francis Petersen as Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the UFS.
Photo: Johan Roux

Short biography of Prof Francis Petersen
Inaugural address: 19 May 2017
Transcription of the ceremony
Photo Gallery
Video

 

Welcoming Ceremonies:

The week of 11-19 May 2017 was one of the highlights in this year’s calendar for staff and students of the University of the Free State (UFS), with various ceremonies taking place to welcome Prof Francis Petersen – who assumed his duties on 1 April 2017 – as the 14th Vice-Chancellor and Rector. The festivities culminated in the official inauguration ceremony at the Bloemfontein Campus on 19 May 2017.
 
The Qwaqwa Campus welcoming ceremony took place on Thursday 11 May 2017, attracting a wide spectrum of community leaders from the area. Prof Petersen was welcomed by representatives from the two trade unions, National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) and UVPERSU, as well as representatives from the Student Representative Council (SRC), the Thabo Mofutsanyana Education District, and the House of Traditional Leaders. Paramount Queen Mopeli of the Bakoena Royal House bestowed a special honour upon Prof Petersen by clothing him in a traditional Basotho blanket and hat. She said, "From our heart of hearts, welcome, Prof Francis ..., and all Godspeed during your tenure."
 
The South Campus in Bloemfontein hosted a welcoming ceremony for the new Vice-Chancellor and Rector on 18 May 2017. The ceremony included a number of vocal performances and messages from various stakeholder groups. The same afternoon, the Institute for Reconciliation and Social Justice (IRSJ) also facilitated a panel discussion, titled Diversity, inclusivity, and social justice and the renewed call for decolonisation, in the Albert Wessels Auditorium (AWO) on the Bloemfontein Campus.

The welcoming ceremonies culminated in an event in the Callie Human Centre on Friday 19 May 2017 at the Bloemfontein Campus, with a number of performances by musicians associated with the UFS, marimbas, drum majorettes from Jim Fouche Secondary School, the Grey College Gumboots, and school choirs from Eunice Secondary School, Brebner Primary School, and Willem Postma Primary School. Representatives from key stakeholders such as Nehawu, UVPERSU, the Campus Ministries Forum, SRC, Alumni, Convocation, and the UFS Council had the opportunity to convey their messages of welcome to Prof Petersen.
 
The formal inauguration ceremony took place in the Odeion Theatre on the Bloemfontein Campus the same day.

 

Qwaqwa Campus ceremony:

11 May 2017
Qwaqwa Campus

 Description: Prof Petersen with the queen 2 Tags: Prof Petersen with the queen 2

 

"Qwaqwa Campus is the perfect laboratory for sustainable sciences.” – Prof Petersen

 

Photo caption: Paramount Queen Mopeli of the Bakoena Royal House with Prof Petersen and his wife, Cheslyn.
Photo: Mamosa Makaya

Photo Gallery
Video

Read the full story
Transcription of the ceremony

 

South Campus ceremony:

18 May 2017
South Campus

 Description: South Campus welcoming Tags: South Campus welcoming

 

"South Campus: you aspire excellence, adding to diversity and you are innovative in what you do." - Prof Petersen

Photo caption: Flag bearers and drummers walking to the Madiba Arena.
Photo: Hannes Pieterse

Photo Gallery

Read the full story
Transcription of the ceremony

 

 

Bloemfontein Campus panel discussion:

Panel discussion: Diversity, inclusivity and social justice and the renewed call for decolonisation
18 May 2017
Bloemfontein Campus

 Description: Panel discussion 18 May 2017 Tags: Panel discussion 18 May 2017


"The UFS should be a place of belonging for everyone." - Prof Petersen

 

Photo caption: from left: SK Luwaca (SRC President, Bloemfontein Campus), Prof Elelwani Ramugondo (UCT), Prof Francis Petersen (UFS), Prof Melissa Steyn (WITS), Prof Andre Keet (UFS)
Photo: Lelanie de Wet

Photo Gallery

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Transcription of panel discussion



 

Bloemfontein Campus ceremony:

19 May 2017
Bloemfontein Campus

 Description: Bloem welcoming ceremony on 19 May 2017 Tags: Bloem welcoming ceremony on 19 May 2017


"I can just say, Wow! I've experienced a lot during the welcoming functions on all three campuses." - Prof Petersen

 

Photo caption: Prof Francis Petersen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the UFS
Photo: Rulanzen Martin

Photo Gallery

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Transcription of the ceremony


 

 

Description: Inauguration and welcoming of Prof Petersen combined gallery Tags: Inauguration and welcoming of Prof Petersen combined gallery

Photo gallery of Inauguration and Welcoming Ceremonies

 

 

 

 

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