Tag: contamination

In South Africa, the traditional one-size-fits-all approach to public sanitation has proven inadequate in addressing the unique needs of informal settlements. Informal settlements continue to grow, and residents are increasingly seeking in-house sanitation solutions that provide privacy and dignity.

Imagine a bustling Cape Town restaurant filled with tourists. Or a Sandton office where handshakes seal deals. Picture a Durban preschool where tots play and touch everything in sight. What do they have in common? Each faces invisible threats like bacteria, viruses and contaminants thriving in shared spaces.

In the ever-evolving arena of environmental legislation, the National Environmental Management Amendment Act 2 of 2022 (NEMLAA4) emerges as a transformative force, poised to introduce a wholesale shift in South Africa’s environmental legislative landscape.

The concept of sustainability is considered differently for developing countries versus developed countries. Developed economies tend to look at sustainability with a significant focus towards environmental impact and preservation. In contrast, developing countries consider sustainability from a socio-economic perspective, which includes infrastructure-related challenges, for example.

Humans have known about the importance of clean water for millennia. Yet modern water treatment would be the envy of past civilisations. Through chemicals such as chlorine, we've curtailed the presence of dangerous viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites in our water and food.

In Dockside Reading, Isabel Hofmeyr traces the relationships among print culture, colonialism, and the ocean through the institution of the British colonial Custom House.