SOUTH AFRICAN ENVIRONMENT, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY MONTHLY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 PRETORIA 001222 DEPT FOR OES/PCI, OES/ENV, AND AF/S DEPT PASS EPA/OIA, SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV SOCI ETRD SF SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICAN ENVIRONMENT, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY MONTHLY BRIEFINGS, MAY 2008 PRETORIA 00001222 001.2 OF 003 ¶1. (U) Summary: This is the South African Environment, Science and Technology Monthly Briefings newsletter, May 2008, Volume 3, Number 5, prepared by the U.S. Embassy Pretoria, South Africa. Topics of the newsletter: -- CT INSTALL SOLAR GEYSERS TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE -- GREEN SCORPIONS' CEMENT PLANT CLEAN OUT CAMPAIGN -- PSSW REVIES MEDICAL WASTE DISPOSAL PROCESSES -- FIRE FIGHTERS GET READY FOR THE FIRE SEASON -- SA CELEBRATE SANITATION AND HYGIENE WEEK -- NEW GENERATION DAM FOR CAPE TOWN -- 2,000 FOREIGN MATH/SCIENCE TEACHERS HEAD FOR SA -- FACTOID End Summary. CT Install Solar Geysers to Combat Climate Change -------------- -------------- ¶2. (U) Cape Town has demonstrated its seriousness about combating climate change and sustainable use of energy by installing 60 Eskom accredited solar water geysers in households in the township of Kwanokuthula. Once completed, the city could save up to 500 MW in electricity, which could help ease up the pressure on the national electricity supply. The project is only the launch of the first phase of a bigger proposed project, whereby the Western Cape provincial government would install 1,000 solar-powered geysers in local communities. Western Cape province Premier Ebrahim Rasool said the project was being implemented among Western Cape's poor communities because climate change is a poverty issue, which would affect the poor the most. The project is also a means of bringing renewable energy to the poor, according to Rasool. The next installations would go to Nyanga, Elisies RIvier and Atlantis during ¶2008. Green Scorpions' Cement Plant Clean Out Campaign -------------- --- ¶3. (U) The compliance and enforcement wing of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT),popularly known as the "Green Scorpions," has embarked on a compliance inspection campaign at cement manufacturing companies across South Africa. The campaign commenced on May 26 at the Lafarge plant in the North West Province. The Green Scorpions have partnered with six provincial departments and the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry to monitor compliance with all environmental legislation, authorizations and permits applicable to each site of operation. The "Clean Cement" campaign follows a similar campaign which occurred in the past year and had focused on the steel and ferroalloy industry. ¶4. (U) DEAT informed representatives of companies at an April Cement Industry Workshop so they could prepare for the inspections. DEAT Deputy Director General Joanne Yawitch said the cement industry was placed under scrutiny because its products have suddenly become much in demand because of an increase in construction and other developmental projects. She added that the industry could significantly contribute to pollution because of its rapid expansion, if not given attention. PSSA Reviews Medical Waste Disposal Processes -------------- ¶5. (U) The Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa (PSSA) has recently developed a checklist and guidelines for pharmacists to transport and dispose of medical and pharmaceutical waste according to accepted world practice. The move is an end result of shocking reports of indiscriminate disposal of hazardous medical waste and expired medicines, including human remains in landfill sites in some Qexpired medicines, including human remains in landfill sites in some parts of the country. The incidents led to countrywide outcries for a stop and investigation into the illegal practice. The PSSA conducted an informal survey among its own members, mostly pharmacists, which revealed that there was confusion as to whether the processes applied by some waste removal operators were environmentally acceptable. South Africa has laws which regulate the transportation and disposal of medical waste, but the enforcement thereof remains a serious challenge. Fire-Fighters Get Ready for the Fire Season -------------- PRETORIA 00001222 002.2 OF 003 ¶6. (U) Forty aviation pilot fire-fighters underwent an intense, week-long fire-fighting training program from May 26, in Nelspruit in Mpumalanga province. The training program dubbed "Working on Fire" (WOF) was conducted in preparation of the coming dry winter fire season which began on June 1. The period is characterized by a series of wildfire outbreaks which have claimed many lives and property in the past. In July and August 2007 alone, wildfires claimed seventeen civilian lives, including six firefighters, severely injured twenty-seven, and wiped out 63,000 hectares of plantation forests and grazing land. This fire season's pilots will fly helicopters, spotter and bomber planes across the fire-prone provinces and beyond, just as a precaution. WOF Program Manager Fred Mokgope said WOF is a government-funded and multi-partner organization focused on integrated fire management. He added that the militaristic training, which demanded physical fitness and discipline, has saved many lives and property over the years. SA Celebrates Sanitation and Hygiene Week -------------- ¶7. (U) The Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry Lindiwe Hendricks formally launched the National Sanitation and Hygiene Week (NSHW) on May 26 at the Sandton Convention Center in Johannesburg. The Minister opened the keynote address by strongly condemning the xenophobic violence which had plagued the country in the past three weeks. She noted that there was a general perception that the people who were engaged in the barbaric acts were those who have not received basic services and who have lived in poverty, but said that this did not justify involvement in such violence. Hendricks said although there were many millions of people who have yet to receive water and sanitation services, the government provided clean water to over 18.7 million people since 1994 and access to decent sanitation services to another 10.9 million. ¶8. (U) The Minister added that at a recent United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development session in New York, South Africa was quoted as one of the countries which had met its Millennium Development Goals target on sanitation, despite of the outstanding backlog. Sub-Saharan Africa was identified as the region most unlikely to meet the sanitation MDG by 2015. The NSHW (May 26-31) is celebrated annually to raise the profile of sanitation on the political agenda, to raise public awareness on health and hygiene and to promote sanitation best practices. New Generation Dam for Cape Town -------------- ¶9. (U) The Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA),a statutory body, is to transform the Berg River Dam into a new breed of dams to be operated according to World Commission of Dams standards for environmental protection. The Berg River Dam in Franschoek, Western Cape will be the first bulk water resource development project in South Africa, directly linked to water demand management. TCTA Environmental Section Head Nigel Rossouw said engineers would build a 63-meter wet in-let tower to enable the dam to make high and low releases through out the year, to simulate flood events and natural inflow into the dam. The cabinet-approved 2002 Berg River Dam Project was commissioned after a water assessment indicated that Cape Town would be the first South African city to be hit by a high water demand and low supply period. The dam was therefore designed Qwater demand and low supply period. The dam was therefore designed to capture winter rainfall and store it for supply to Cape Town in the dry summer months, while increasing the annual yields. Next-in-line for a similar development is the Olifants River in Steelpoort, Limpopo, according to TCTA. 2,000 Foreign Math/Science Teachers Head for SA -------------- -- ¶10. (U) 2,000 Foreign Math/Science Teachers Head for South Africa Department of Education (DOE) Deputy Director General (DDG) Firoz Patel told the National Assembly's portfolio committee on education that his department will employ two thousand foreign math and science (M&S) teachers in the next two years. Patel said there was a critical shortage of skills in M&S teaching in South Africa, while DOE still had to deal with unqualified or under-qualified teachers. The DDG said DOE already has 1,432 foreign teachers working in local schools, and has received enquiries about employment from Asia and the U.S. The program will run for three years, with the first group of 1,000 teachers arriving in October this year. ¶11. (U) The Department of Home Affairs has, on the other hand, allocated 4,000 permits for the expected teachers. Palesa Tyobeka, another DOE DDG, noted that there was a growing lack of interest in teaching by good M&S teachers, which is why they had been leaving the profession in droves. In an effort to remedy the situation, DOE has allocated R500 million ($66.6 million) for teacher incentives, PRETORIA 00001222 003.2 OF 003 and has established a four-year bursary fund for teacher training programs. Tyobeka said the DOE was aiming at completely eradicating under-qualified teachers by 2013 Monthly Factoid -------------- ¶12. (U) 220,000 years ago a meteorite struck South Africa, forming the Tswaing Crater northwest of Pretoria. This is one of the most accessible and best-preserved meteorite impact craters in the world. Bost