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Second Southern African Mountain Conference kicks off with a resounding start in Drakensberg

19 March 2025 | Story Precious Shamase | Photo Andre Damons

The Second Southern African Mountain Conference (SAMC 2025) commenced on Monday, 17 March amid a tangible sense of anticipation and a collaborative spirit at the Champagne Sports Resort, nestled in the heart of the Maloti-Drakensberg. Delegates from across the region and beyond gathered, setting the stage for a week of insightful discussions and collaborative exploration under the theme, ‘Southern African Mountains – Overcoming Boundaries and Barriers.’

Hosted by the University of the Free State (UFS) and its Afromontane Research Unit (ARU), the conference opened with a series of welcome statements that emphasised the global significance of mountain ecosystems. Prof Ralph Clark, SAMC 2025 Conference Chair and Session Chair, initiated the proceedings, setting the tone for a conference focused on actionable solutions.

Collaboration transcends mountain borders

The global reach of the conference was immediately evident, with welcome addresses from key partners. Prof Roland Psenner, President of Eurac Research – speaking on behalf of the Global Mountain Safeguard Programme (GLOMOS) – highlighted the importance of international collaboration. Alex Hickman, Chairman of the African Mountain Research Foundation (AMRF), highlighted the critical work being done on the ground. Notably, a recorded message from Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, in support of the AMRF resonated with attendees, further amplifying the message of the conference.

Prof Hester C. Klopper, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the UFS – speaking on behalf of the ARU – stressed the significance of the venue, highlighting its role as a ‘meeting place’ where borders, ecosystems, and diverse stakeholders converge. "This location symbolises the very essence of our conference," Prof Klopper stated, "a space where we transcend boundaries to address the challenges facing our mountain regions".

Welcome statements were also delivered by Sara Manuelli from the Mountain Partnership, Ambassador Mirko Manzoni of the Embassy of Switzerland in South Africa, and Ndapanda Kanime, who represented the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Dr Kelly Cerialo, representing UNESCO – the patron of SAMC 2025 – delivered a welcoming address that highlighted the organisation's commitment to supporting mountain research and conservation. The official opening was conducted by Leluma Matooane, representative of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation.

Sharing insightful books, film, and mountains

Following the official opening, delegates attended a plenary keynote address by Dr Willem Daffue, which delved into critical aspects of mountain research. The morning session also featured a series of book launches, celebrating new publications from ARU and GLOMOS, including Sustainable Futures in Southern Africa's Mountains, Safeguarding Mountain Social-Ecological Systems, A scientific bibliography of the Waterberg, Makgabeng plateau, Blouberg, Soutpansberg and adjacent areas, and Christopher R Conz’s Environment, Knowledge, and Injustice in Lesotho: The Poverty of Progress.

Monday 17 March 2025 will be etched in the annals of Southern African mountain research and storytelling as the documentary film, Qwaqwa: Place of Barriers and Bridges, premiered to a captivated audience at the Second Southern African Mountain Conference (SAMC 2025). Hosted against the breathtaking backdrop of the central Maloti-Drakensberg, the film’s release marked a powerful moment of reflection and a catalyst for crucial dialogue.

Executive produced by Prof Vasu Reddy, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Internationalisation at the University of the Free State (UFS), and Prof Jared McDonald, Qwaqwa: Place of Barriers and Bridges offers a poignant and unflinching look at the complex social and environmental realities of the Qwaqwa region. The film, screened on the conference's opening day, served as a compelling visual narrative bridging academic discourse with the lived experiences of mountain communities.

Dialogue, networking, conference continues

Delegates, researchers, and stakeholders from across the globe witnessed the film's debut, recognising its significant contribution to understanding the challenges and opportunities within the Maloti-Drakensberg landscape. The film's premiere was not merely a screening; it was a watershed moment, sparking immediate conversations about the interplay between human activity and the fragile ecosystems of the region.

The film's release at SAMC 2025 highlighted the conference's commitment to fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and bridging the gap between research and real-world impact. By showcasing the human stories embedded in the mountains, Qwaqwa: Place of Barriers and Bridges provided a powerful emotional anchor to the conference's broader discussions on sustainability, conservation, and community resilience.

This premiere will undoubtedly resonate far beyond the conference halls, leaving an indelible mark on the collective understanding of the Maloti-Drakensberg region. The film's legacy will be one of inspiration, prompting further research, advocacy, and collaborative action to safeguard these vital mountain ecosystems for generations to come. The day will go down in history as a moment where film and scholarship intersected to illuminate the heart of the mountains.

The day concluded with a meet-and-greet hosted by the UFS Office for International Affairs, fostering networking and further collaboration among delegates.

The conference continues for the rest of the week, with a full programme of presentations, workshops, and field excursions.

News Archive

Research eradicates bacteria from avocado facility

2017-01-17

Listeria monocytogenes as seen under an electron
microscope. The photo was taken with a transmission
electron microscope at the microscopy unit of the UFS.
Bacteriophages (lollipop-like structures) can be seen
next to the bacterial cells.
Photo: Supplied

“The aim of my project was to identify and characterise the contamination problem in an avocado-processing facility and then to find a solution,” said Dr Amy Strydom, postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Microbial Biochemical and Food Biotechnology at the University of the Free State (UFS).

Her PhD, “Control of Listeria monocytogenes in an Avocado-processing Facility”, aimed to identify and characterise the contamination problem in a facility where avocados were processed into guacamole. Dr Strydom completed her MSc in food science in 2009 at Stellenbosch University and this was the catalyst for her starting her PhD in microbiology in 2012 at the UFS. The research was conducted over a period of four years and she graduated in 2016. The research project was funded by the National Research Foundation.

The opportunity to work closely with the food industry further motivated Dr Strydom to conduct her research. The research has made a significant contribution to a food producer (avocado facility) that will sell products that are not contaminated with any pathogens. The public will then buy food that is safe for human consumption.

What is Listeria monocytogenes?

Listeria monocytogenes is a food-borne pathogenic bacterium. When a food product is contaminated with L. monocytogenes, it will not be altered in ways that are obvious to the consumer, such as taste and smell. When ingested, however, it can cause a wide range of illnesses in people with impaired immune systems. “Risk groups include newborn babies, the elderly, and people suffering from diseases that weaken their immune systems,” Dr Strydom said. The processing adjustments based on her findings resulted in decreased numbers of Listeria in the facility.

The bacteria can also survive and grow at refrigeration temperatures, making them dangerous food pathogens, organisms which can cause illnesses [in humans]. Dr Strydom worked closely with the facility and developed an in-house monitoring system by means of which the facility could test their products and the processing environment. She also evaluated bacteriophages as a biological control agent in the processing facility. Bacteriophages are viruses that can only infect specific strains of bacteria. Despite bacteriophage products specifically intended for the use of controlling L. monocytogenes being commercially available in the food industry, Dr Strydom found that only 26% of the L. monocytogenes population in the facility was destroyed by the ListexP100TM product. “I concluded that the genetic diversity of the bacteria in the facility was too high and that the bacteriophages could not be used as a control measure. However, there is much we do not understand about bacteriophages, and with a few adjustments, we might be able to use them in the food industry.”

Microbiological and molecular characterisation of L. monocytogenes

The bacteria were isolated and purified using basic microbiological culturing. Characterisation was done based on specific genes present in the bacterial genome. “I amplified these genes with polymerase chain reaction (PCR), using various primers targeting these specific genes,” Dr Strydom said. Some amplification results were analysed with a subsequent restriction digestion where the genes were cut in specific areas with enzymes to create fragments. The lengths of these fragments can be used to differentiate between strains. “I also compared the whole genomes of some of the bacterial strains.” The bacteriophages were then isolated from waste water samples at the facility using the isolated bacterial strains. “However, I was not able to isolate a bacteriophage that could infect the bacteria in the facility.

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