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UFS experts join national team to assess government’s Operation Vulindlela

18 May 2023 | Story André Damons | Photo Supplied

Powerstation — South Africa is facing increasing water stress due to a variety of factors.

South Africa, like the rest of Africa, is facing increasing water stress due to a variety of factors, including inadequate maintenance and investment in water and sanitation infrastructure, unequal access to water, poor water quality, and increasingly unsustainable water demand. Flooding and drought disasters and disruptions in water and sanitation services have become more frequent in recent years amidst a growing population in a semi-arid country.

In addition to the ongoing load shedding crisis we are facing, South Africa is rapidly approaching a situation where “water shedding” is becoming a tangible issue. Although it hasn’t reached a nationwide scale yet, the occurrence of disruptions in water supply systems due to shortages and a combination of other factors is growing significantly.

This situation is detrimental, not only to South Africa’s developmental goals but also to its socio-economic position within the Southern African development community region and the continent as a whole.

This is according to academics from the University of the Free State (UFS) and the University of Pretoria (UP) who were part of a group of academics and industry experts who did an independent assessment of Operation Vulindlela’s impact on South Africa. Pres Cyril Ramaphosa unveiled Operation Vulindlela – a joint initiative of the Presidency and National Treasury that aims to modernise and transform network industries – in 2020 as the vehicle to “fast-track the delivery of economic reforms”.

Prof Paul Oberholster, Director of the UFS Centre for Environmental Management and an expert in wastewater treatment, and Dr Yolandi Schoeman, his Postdoctoral Fellow, together with Prof Emma Archer, Professor in Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of Pretoria were asked by Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) to focus on water.

Bring about the structural change

RMB states in the report that it commissioned a body of work by academics and industry experts to independently evaluate whether the execution of policy initiatives set out by Operation Vulindlela, would bring about the structural change that is necessary to accelerate SA’s growth and employment. The subsequent parts of this report focus on three of the five network industries identified by Operation Vulindlela – electricity, water and transport (ports and rail).

“It was an honour to have been part of this project with RMB and to unpack and strategically assess the water sector in South Africa. We know that there are plenty of challenges, but there are also remarkable opportunities where we can implement solutions and demonstrate impact, bring about change and work hard in turning the situation around as a joint constructive collaborative approach.

“They are very keen on working with leaders in the water space with qualities of strategic thinking, innovation, collaboration, inclusivity, and a strong commitment to sustainable development. It is an impactful contribution indeed,” says Prof Oberholster.

In their sections of the report, under heading South Africa's Blue Revolution: Investing in a thriving water future South Africa, Prof Oberholster, Dr Schoeman and Prof Archer, focused on five themes, namely Water for planetary health, Water for development, Water for climate, resilience and the environment, Water for cooperation and The Water Decade of Action.

“We were asked to evaluate the viability of what is still left to be done in the water sector in South Africa. We were asked to contribute our thinking to the RMB handbook for the purpose of distribution to corporate and institutional clients. As part of our outcome we provided clear and unbiased direction to RMB’s clients on the joint initiative the likely impact of Operation Vulindlela on economic growth and what still needs to be done to turn the water sector around,” according to Prof Oberholster.

Guidelines to improve the country’s water situation

He says their aim was to give guidelines on how to improve the country’s water situation. He believes the work they have done with this assessment and on other occasions, will help the UFS in its goal to be a university that impactfully supports societal development as set out in Vision 130, which states: Our knowledge will continue to contribute to the development of the Free State, South Africa, and the African continent and to advance global knowledge and understanding.

As clean water and sanitation is Goal 6 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it is a further indication of the importance of this research and work.

According to Dr Schoeman, reports like these are important because they help raise awareness of the challenges and opportunities for achieving water security and sustainable development. They identify problems and bottlenecks within the industry, helping to target areas that require immediate attention and action. They provide potential solutions and enable dialogue to the problems identified, giving stakeholders a roadmap for action and providing essential background that can enable investment and further inform investment priorities.

“Such reports help to inform planning and decision-making processes by providing data, evidence, and recommendations based on research and analysis. They encourage collaboration and coordination among stakeholders by providing a common understanding of the issues and potential solutions.

“They also provide guidance and recommendations for decision-makers to improve water resources management and governance. Water is a vital resource for human health, food security, energy production, environmental protection and more, so it is essential to recognise its worth and incorporate it into planning and policies,” says Dr Schoeman.

Blue Revolution

The academics also talks about the Blue Revolution – essential blue solutions – in supporting Operation Vulindlela which can enable a sustainable future for South Africa's water management system. The Blue Revolution in South Africa, write the academics, refers to a comprehensive strategy and functional implementation for modernising and transforming the country’s water sector. It aims to improve water management practices and enhance the water sector’s overall efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability in enabling planetary health.

News Archive

Conference: Expanded ARV treatment

2005-03-02

VENUE: University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
DATE: 30 March 2005 - 1 April 2005

ARV Programme as on 24Feb Download Word document
Programme Special events Download Word document

Official web site www.fshealth.gov.za/subsites/arvc

Rationale for the Conference
At the time of the planned Conference, much ground would have been covered, both in the Free State and in South Africa, in respect of the expanded public sector ARV treatment programme in respect of research, experiences in practice, training of staff, treatment of patients, lessons learned, successes and failures, etc. The time would then be quite opportune to share these in a systematic manner with other provinces and countries, as well as with the large variety of stakeholders and role players in the ARV and related domains, be they academics and researchers, policy makers and service/facility managers, the variety of caregivers, and the community organisations and affected patients.

The Conference and current research
The proposed Conference is, firstly, directly linked to the current research on the public sector roll-out of ARV treatment in the Free State conducted by several research institutions (e.g. CIET, CHSR&D, UCT Lung Institute). Secondly, the Conference could and would serve as a forum for other research groups in the country and further a field to report and share knowledge and experiences on ARV treatment and related initiatives. Lastly, the Conference will stage a golden opportunity for researchers and scientists, on the one hand, and policy makers, managers, and caregivers (as knowledge users), on the other hand, to engage in cross-disciplinary discourse on this mutual and topical theme.

Theme of Conference
Expanded ARV treatment in the Free State: sharing experiences

Focus
The focus is primarily on public sector ARV treatment in the Free State, but also initiatives/activities/perspectives of relevance to the Free State elsewhere in the country at large and further a field, as well as relevant ARV initiatives in the public, private, NGO and FBO sectors. Bear in mind, however, that ARV treatment is but part of a much more comprehensive approach to HIV and AIDS. The Conference will, therefore, not narrowly focus on the ARV treatment programme only. The broader context, other relevant dimensions, and a comprehensive approach to the challenges of HIV, AIDS and TB are of equal importance.

The purpose of the Conference
Enhance meaningful exchange, mutual understanding and collaboration among researchers, scientists, policy makers, managers and practitioners in the field of ARV treatment and related fields.

Share experiences in the various spheres of ARV treatment and related spheres (policy, management, practice, research, training, public-private-civil society sectors).

Record, reflect and report on the establishment of the ARV treatment programme in the Free State, and in within the context of the comprehensive HIV/AIDS programme.

Disseminate important research results on ARV treatment and related themes to health policy makers, managers, practitioners, communities and to the research community.

Stimulate discourse among various disciplines and various stakeholders/role players involved in ARV treatment and related programmes.

Sensitise and acquaint researchers to the requirements of policy makers, managers and practitioners in respect of ARV treatment and related fields.

Facilitate the implementation of research results in ARV treatment policy, programmes and practice.

Dissemination of Conference-related information
Information generated during the Conference could feed into policy, management and practice of ARV treatment, the training accompanying such programme, and the existing body of knowledge. After the Conference the information will be disseminated via the Internet and by scientific and popular publications.

Date and duration
Set for 30 & 31 March & 1 April 2005; to commence at 09:00 on the first day (30 March) and to end at 16:30 (1 April) the third day.

Format and scope of Conference
Alternating plenary, parallel sessions and debates focused on topical issues and interest groups. The Conference will strive to be maximally interactive and participative.

Themes and topics to cover:

Policy, management and health services/practice (various levels and contexts – clinical treatment, information, IT systems, pharmacy, laboratories, nutrition)
Research covering all relevant disciplines and diverse dimensions of ARV treatment and related themes
Training and evaluation of training
Patients, communities and civil society organisations
Public, private, NGO, FBO initiatives and partnerships

Emphasis will be on the Free State, however, with of significant involvement from other provinces, SADC countries, and countries further a field. The thrust will be to export lessons and experiences from the Free State, but also to import lessons and experiences from other provinces, countries and sectors.

Presenters
Key presenters from the Free State, other provinces, South Africa, from the private, FBO and NGO sectors, and from several other countries

Delegates
About half of the delegates will be Free State stakeholders and role players (all levels and all contexts). The other half will be role players and stakeholders in the ARV and related fields from other provinces, the national level, and other countries, as well as from the private, public and non-governmental sectors.

Focused workshops
Provision will be made for half-a-day or one-day workshop initiatives on the third day (1 April 2005).

Enquiries
For more information please contact:

Prof Dingie van Rensburg
Centre for Health Systems Research & Development
University of the Free State
PO Box 339
Bloenfontein
SOUTH AFRICA
9300

Contact:
Carin van Vuuren
Conference Organiser
Centre for Health Systems Research & Development
University of the Free State
P.O.Box 339
Bloemfontein
South Africa
9300
Tel +27 (0) 51 401 2181
Fax +27 (0) 51 4480370
Cell 0832932890
e-mail: arvconference.hum@mail.uovs.ac.za

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