Today with Kieno Kammies

Guest: Dr Nel Marais MD of Thabiti, an international risk consultancy

Guest: David Gluckman Founder – Lumkani Fire Detection

Guest: Ernie Lai King head of tax at hogan lovells

Guest: Dr Kevin Winter Environmental & Geographical Science
Future Water Institute

Will we be asking ourselves in 20 years’ time: “why are we in this situation AGAIN?” Why did we not learn from the big drought of 2016/17?

We have been doing interview after interview on what we need to do to ensure we have a stable water supply to meet the needs of a growing population.

But will it amount to commitment from government to actually implement the well-researched proposals put onto the table? Will our behaviour be changed to such an extent that we no longer take water for granted, even in the years when the rains are plentiful and the dams remain full enough during the dry summer season?

Guest: Jason Mingo Task Manager: Ecological Infrastructure and Bioremediation Directorate: Pollution and Chemicals Management

Just north of Cape Town, approximately 294 km long with a catchment area of 7715 km² … is the gorgeous Berg River.

About 65% of the Berg River area is under agriculture – it supplies water to a number of dams and towns along its course not only for farmers, but also for industrial development, human consumption and recreation. The Berg river is also a massively popular choice for a fun family holiday.

But pollution has greatly threatened the water quality of this vital estuary.

In January 2013, the Western Cape Government approved a plan to spend R16 million over the following three years, on improving the quality of water in the Berg River. The project is a joint effort between the Western Cape Government, the Department of Water Affairs, CapeNature and the various municipalities in the area.

We speak to Jason Mingo now for more...

Additional information

The major towns in the Berg River area are Velddrif and Laaiplek near thr coast, Piketberg, Hopefield, Moorreesburg and Darling further inland, and Wellington and Paarl in the upper catchment. The lead source of the Berg River is south of Franschhoek in the Drakenstein Mountains.

The Great Berg River can be subdivided into the following segments:

Upper Berg River & Tributaries

Upper Middle Berg River & Tributaries

Lower, Middle Berg River & Tributaries

Lower Berg River & Tributaries.

Guest: Klaudia Schacht-Schneider Programme Manager: Water Stewardship at WWF

The WWF runs an extensive Freshwater Programme, and one of the key focus areas is water stewardship.

This means that WWF works with various water users, especially in the private sector, to help them on a journey to take full responsibility for their water uses. WWF plays a key facilitation role for organisations to ask themselves what part they can play to help South Africa overcome the current crisis, as well as prepare for and even shape the future of freshwater supplies in South Africa. 

For that, two steps are essential. Firstly, to look at water uses within the organisational fence-line, and secondly, to become part of a collective group, who address the larger water risks in the shared catchment.

Distell is one of the organisations currently working with WWF, to assess its own water risks, to review its own steps towards water stewardship and to build a company water stewardship plan. 

Practically this means choosing investments in appropriate technology, such as a wastewater facility. This is happening at Adam Tas and it is an appropriate way for Distell to reduce its water quality impact on the Eerste River. At a collective action level, Distell has been an active member in Stellenbosch River Collaborative, adding its voice and ideas to a platform that seeks workable solutions for the Eerste catchment.

Guest: Jonathon Cherry Director: CherryFlava Medi

Guest: Heidi Newton-King, Sustainability & HR Director at Spier

Today (22 March) is World Water Day! We’re broadcasting from the Spier Wine Estate and the dominant theme of the show today will be the water crisis we are facing.

Why are we at Spier? Besides their amazing water-saving initiatives, Spier is also part of the Stellenbosch River Collaborative (multi stakeholder group) who are seriously focused on addressing the problems of pollution and water security in the Stellenbosch area (a problem we’re currently facing in the Cape).  

We speak to Heidi Newton-King, Sustainability & HR director at Spier for more next…

Additional information

The Stellenbosch River Collaborative launched in late 2013. This group of likeminded organisations and people is committed to improving the water quality of the rivers in the Eerste River Catchment. Their aim is to develop a collaborative governance response to the water quality issues and the environment in the catchment.

At the 2015 Nedbank Green Wine Awards, Spier was announced winner of the Getaway Award for Leadership in Water Conservation in recognition of its advanced treatment of wastewater.

http://www.spier.co.za/

https://www.facebook.com/spierwinefarm

https://twitter.com/spierwinefarm

https://www.instagram.com/SpierWineFarm/

Guest: Dr Gasnat Shaboodien Deputy director cardio-vascular genetics at UCT

Guest: Ryland Fisher Executive Chairperson of Cape Town Festival

The One City, Many Cultures Cape Town Festival will celebrate its 19th birthday in a new venue. The annual event on Human Rights Day, 21 March, will this year be hosted at the Castle of Good Hope and not the Iziko Museums/Company Gardens precinct as in previous years.