BOC Publications

A betting man could well be forgiven for backing the defending champions Andy Birkett and Jason Graham to win this year's The Unlimited Dusi canoe marathon when they paddle into the finish at Blue Lagoon next Saturday.

The 120-kilometre, three-day event is one of the biggest canoe marathons in the world. It is also one of the toughest, putting a much higher premium on portaging than other events of similar length.

If they pull off a defence of the title, it will deepen the fairy tale of the two athletes, with more apparent differences than similarities, brought together by a bond of friendship and a desire to have fun while they are racing, even more.

At 33 years old, Jason Graham will cut a conspicuous figure on the front row of A-batch at the start at Camps Drift, his thinning hair cropped short and befitting of the nickname his 21-year-old partner loves to use for him: "Gramps".

Friendship and common schooling

The two, drawn together by their friendship and common schooling at Maritzburg College, put together an old-school campaign to win the last K2 title in 2010, which they carried out to perfection.

Can they now do it again in 2012? After the 2010 race Graham was quick to try and encourage Birkett to find a younger partner for his title defence, but he refused to budge and the pair has been hard at work preparing for the 2012 showdown.

"Anyone who has the opportunity to paddle with Andy (Birkett) is very fortunate, so I was quite shocked and hell of a flattered when Andy gave me a call and asked if he could paddle with the old 'ballie' again," explained Graham.

"It's not often Dusi partnerships stick together throughout the years, so it's really great to be paddling with him again. I like to think of it as a mature decision on his part because we just combine so well.

'Half the battle won'

"We get along superbly and that is half the battle won when it comes to the Dusi, but neither of us has the greatest paddling techniques either, but our flaws are quite similar, so we always seem to manage to get the boat going quite nicely together," he added.

With Birkett having started his paddling career as a guppy on Camps Drift under the watchful eye of none other than "Coach Graham", the two continued their friendship once Birkett entered high school where Graham once again played the role of mentor.

"We obviously knew each other fairly well back then, but it wasn't until Jason (Graham) asked me to do the 2010 Dusi with him that we actually even got into a boat together," said Birkett.

'I considered all my options'

"We combined really well though and it was great to be able to paddle with him and win Dusi two years ago. When it came to deciding on a partner for this year's race I certainly considered all my options and debated who I should approach to paddle with for quite a while.

"Eventually it was my brother who helped clear things up for me though when he asked me what I wanted to get out of my Dusi. I knew I wanted to have fun and to get to the end of the race with a smile on my face, so with that in mind it became clear that Jason was the right guy to ask."

The pair appreciates just how unique their bond is and the impact it has had on their success as a combination. It is a key characteristic that they have embraced throughout their 2012 preparations.

'A team sport'

"It's so important to have a good relationship when you're paddling a K2. It's a team sport after all, so if there is any adversity between the two of you and you make even a small mistake it can really throw you off," said Birkett.

"It also makes preparing for the race so much easier and that much more enjoyable if you get along, and that is something Jason and I definitely do benefit from."

With two titles already under then belt, there are few who can dispute Birkett's immense paddling ability. The Unlimited Dusi, however, is a signature event for the talented youngster and one which he carefully constructs the rest of his year around.

"I definitely like to think of myself as a Dusi specialist. With my multi-sport background, I thrive on the fact that there are so many different disciplines incorporated into the Dusi," said Birkett.

'The biggest race'

"I enjoy a lot of races but this is definitely the biggest race on my sporting calendar by a long way! I've grown up seeing the Dusi all the time and the race takes place in my own community, so it's just naturally in my blood."

Predictably the pair has gone about their business quietly, well away from the hustle and bustle of many of the pre-race events. They are, however, confident they are ready for the 2012 showcase.

"We've flown under the radar a bit this year, but it hasn't really been our intention to do so. We were hoping to race the Rietvlei Rumble hard, but then Andy got sick just beforehand so we couldn't do that, and then I got sick shortly afterwards, so we had to back off for a little while longer," explained Graham.

"We haven't raced flat out for a while, but hopefully that plays into our hands a little bit and gives us a slight psychological edge because now we're coming into the race feeling we have something to prove," he added.

Despite being able to find many similarities in the pair's approach to the one they employed ahead of their 2010 success, the encounter is of a very different nature this time around.

'Different psychological approach'

"It's a completely different psychological approach this time round for us. Now we're a known entity, so we no longer have that element of surprise on our side as we did last time, so things have definitely changed a bit this year," said Graham. "There is also lot more depth this year, with a lot of guys going really well at the moment."

He continued: "The paddle to the first portage should be an absolute cracker with guys like Wayne Wilson and Lukas (Kusovsky), the Czech sprinter, who will probably be out the blocks extremely quickly. We'll just look to try be as well positioned as possible early on and then our race really starts once we get to Campbell's portage," he added.

"We now know what we're capable of and hopefully we can go well again this year," said Graham.

'Under no illusions'

"We're under no illusions, though, that we've got as much chance as the rest of the guys and there are so many variables and places where things can go wrong, so there definitely aren't any foregone conclusions at all."

Birkett added: "Hank (McGregor) and Len (Jenkins) and Thulani (Mbanjwa) and Sibonelo (Zondi) are probably going to be our biggest competition, but we also haven't seen too much of guys like Jasper (Mocke) and Craig (Turton), so who knows what might happen?"

"I'd love to win it again this year, but things are definitely going to be very tough. We've got our own goals and will race as hard as we possibly can, but even just to finish on the podium in the Dusi is something amazing!" he concluded.

The Unlimited Dusi canoe marathon from Camps Drift, Pietermaritzburg, to Blue Lagoon, Durban, takes place from 16 to 18 February.

SAinfo reporter

This is big sky country, with vast mountain ranges falling into lush river valleys.

President Jacob Zuma's State of the Nation address should focus on the implementation of policies and programmes already agreed to, says Business Unity South Africa (Busa).

"In President Zuma's third year in office, 2012 must be a year of 'game change' for implementation," Busa said in a statement on Wednesday.

"Business expects the address to give a comprehensive platform on which business, government, labour and community can continue to position South Africa on a higher, more inclusive and job-rich growth path - and expediting what has been agreed in programmes such as the New Growth Path and the National Development Plan."

President Zuma will deliver the State of the Nation Address in Parliament, Cape Town at 7pm on Thursday evening. The address will be broadcast live on SABC television and radio and streamed live on www.gov.za.

• More info on the State of the Nation address and how to follow it: www.info.gov.za/events/2012/sona/

Busa said it hoped the overall message of the address would help underpin investor confidence and the role of business in order to strengthen South Africa's economic recovery and promote growth.

It also hoped that the address would throw its weight behind strengthening an entrepreneurial culture in the country.

"The prioritisation of job creation, poverty reduction, education, economic transformation, infrastructural development and growth must be invested with a new sense of urgency," Busa said.

"We believe it is in small business that the greatest potential lies for realising South Africa's employment targets."

Source: BuaNews

Top government officials from South Africa and Mozambique held an urgent meeting this week to find practical solutions to the scourge of rhino poaching, which saw the Kruger National Park losing 252 rhinos in 2011 alone.

The meeting was attended by Mozambican Tourism Minister Fernando Sumbana Jnr and South African Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa.

Mozambican assistance 'urgently needed'

During the meeting, Molewa stressed that poaching in the Kruger had escalated to such unacceptable levels that South Africa urgently required the full support of Mozambique if rhino killings were to be significantly reduced.

Recently, Molewa said she had considered various ways of reduce the attacks through the Mozambique border between the Massingir and the Komatipoort areas, including:

• Adding 150 field rangers to increase law enforcement officers in the Kruger National Park to 650.
• Requesting the South African government to increase its military presence in the park.
• Improving coordinated national efforts to increase intelligence gathering.
• Strengthening the border fence between Massingir and Komatipoort.

Mozambique outlines measures

Sumbana emphasized the commitment of Mozambique to conservation, noting that the Mozambican government had prioritised law enforcement efforts that went beyond the narrow focus of rhino poaching.

"Mozambique is currently pondering legislation that will elevate the offence of wildlife poaching to a criminal offence carrying heavier sentencing rather than the current offence of damage to property," Sumbana said, adding that Mozambique's natural resources were being plundered by organised criminals.

Further to the proposed legislation, a new elite highly trained National Anti-Poaching Unit had been formed and the first recruits would be graduating shortly and deployed in priority poaching areas.

Sumbana added that the Mozambican government hasd passed a decree creating a flexible state-owned agency similar to that of South African National Parks (SANParks).

"This will assist with management effectiveness and allow greater flexibility in sourcing funding than is currently the case."

The meeting also highlighted the success of collaborating with Mozambique on the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park (GLTP) with reduced rhino poaching incidents, and the difficulties of erecting a fence between Massingir and Komatipoort.

New transfrontier conservation area in the pipeline

SANParks CEO David Mabunda recently visited the head of the transfrontier conservation areas unit in Mozambique's Ministry of Tourism, Bartolomeu Soto, to discuss the idea of including the 220 000-hectare Greater Lebombo Conservancy to act as an effective buffer for the southern section of the Kruger National Park linking with Mozambique.

The idea has since morphed into a Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA) in line with the signed treaty that created the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park.

Article 3(2) of the signed treaty envisioned the TFCA in Mozambique to include "the Massingir and Corumana areas, as well as the interlinking regions", thus creating an immediate framework for bilateral cooperation between the two countries for the inclusion of the Greater Lebombo Conservancy.

The two ministers agreed to cooperate bilaterally to ensure that the planned TFCA was realised and concluded speedily.

Source: BuaNews

Wildlife

The famous Big Five - elephant, lion, rhino, leopard and buffalo - and more.

Excitement is building around Cape Town's Parliamentary precinct ahead of President Jacob Zuma's State of the Nation Address on Thursday evening.

The National Assembly has been spruced up, the red carpet rolled out and swept, and the military officials involved in the parade and band have pressed their uniforms, cleaned their instruments and are putting in extra practice.

The preparations will culminate in the opening of Parliament and a joint sitting of the National Council of Provinces and the National Assembly for the State of the Nation Address at 7pm on Thursday.

South Africans are encouraged to tune in to SABC radio and television, visit one of the many viewing events held in rural areas, or watch live via streaming on www.gov.za

• More info on the State of the Nation address and how to follow it: www.info.gov.za/events/2012/sona/

Attended by Cabinet members, political parties, businesspeople, ambassadors, commissioners and other heads of state, the opening of Parliament is also a fashionable affair. Last year, the red carpet was lit up by striking traditional attire and the bold colours of the South African flag.

In his speech, the President will chart a common direction for the country for the coming year as well as take stock of the previous year's achievements.

The address is largely informed by the annual Cabinet Lekgotla in January, during which the Cabinet assesses the impact of government programmes and deliberates on the forthcoming programme of action.

The 2012 January Lekgotla also served as a mid-term review, during which the Cabinet assessed progress made on the six job drivers of the government's New Growth Path - infrastructure development, agriculture, mining and beneficiation, manufacturing, the green economy, and tourism.

The 2012 Cabinet Lekgotla also reported that the government had made notable progress across its five key priority areas of education, health, rural development, safety and crime prevention, as well as job creation.

Source: BuaNews

Kemantha Govender

Popular South African actress Leleti Khumalo has joined forces with the KwaZulu-Natal government to help communities, especially young people, to take action to improve their own standards of living.

Khumalo is the ambassador for the Leleti School Grounds project, which forms part of Operation Sukuma Sakhe, a provincial government initiative aimed at assisting communities to rise beyond their current circumstances.

The Durban-born actress, who is known for her outstanding performances in Sarafina and Yesterday, will co-ordinate and host Uzogcwala La!, a magazine television show which will be filmed in townships around Durban and rural areas across the province.

On Monday, Khumalo joined MEC for Finance Ina Cronje at Eastwood Secondary School in Pietermaritzburg to interact with the local community, informing them of the purpose of the programme.

'Stand up and do things for yourselves'

"We are here to listen to you," Khumalo said. "We brought you all the government departments to give you answers. But by the same token, we would also like to encourage young people to stand up and do things for themselves and come up with solutions so that the government can meet us halfway."

Leleti School Grounds was officially launched at JL Dube in KwaMashu, north of Durban last week.

Cronje, a champion of the uMgungundlovu District Municipality, said: "For too long, communities have been stuck in first gear. We are going to turn this skoro-skoro into a racing car. But we have to push together if we are to win the race against poverty, unemployment and all social ills of alcohol and drug abuse, teenage pregnancies and HIV/Aids.

"The government is moving service delivery for young people in this area into top gear," Cronje said. "I am happy to engage with learners, teachers and communities about the issues that lie close to their hearts. Our engagement does not end here, we will follow up on your issues."

'Teach our parents about substance abuse'

Learners at Eastwood Secondary School used the opportunity to talk about teenage pregnancy, substance abuse and financial assistance towards further education.

One learner, who did not want to be named, asked that government come up with a strategy to teach parents at home about substance abuse. The learner said that although schools have programmes in place to educate them, they still have to go back home to parents who have substance abuse problems.

Cronje also officially launched the War Room in Eastwood to ensure government visibility at a household level.

"Each household will be profiled and the various departments and the various role players will assist the household members with their respective needs," said Cronje.

Source: BuaNews

South Africa is a culturally diverse country, one nation made up of many peoples.

Francis Hweshe

South Africa will not nationalise its mines, Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu said at the Investing in African Mining Indaba in Cape Town on Tuesday, welcoming the report of an African National Congress (ANC) task team that reaffirmed that nationalisation was "not a viable policy" for the country.

The Mining Indaba is regarded as the world's largest mining investment conference and Africa's biggest mining event.

Shabangu said that in the midst of "this debate about nationalisation, we have consistently maintained that nationalisation is not the policy of the ANC or the government of South Africa."

She added that "when all is said and done, the ANC will adopt a policy position on this issue that is in the best interest of South Africa.

"Furthermore, we have consistently maintained that were it not for the mining industry lagging behind in terms of implementing the provisions of the Mining Charter ... this debate would not have been there in the first place."

She said the ANC task team report, which reinforced the party's earlier decisions that nationalisation was "not a viable policy for South Africa", came as no surprise.

"It demonstrates the consistent but pragmatic policy that has guided the ANC over many decades, including the period of the adoption of the African Charter in 1955 and, even more recently, the period after 1994."

Minerals beneficiation 'critical'

On a separate matter, Shabangu said that beneficiation of the country's minerals was a critical component of the industrial and economic development framework.

"It is the vehicle through which South Africa's resource-based comparative advantage can be transformed into a national competitive advantage. To this end, a beneficiation strategy has been developed to maximise the returns from the exploitation of our mineral resources."

Shabangu said that the beneficiation policy identified five pilot mineral value chains which included iron ore and steel, energy and titanium.

"It is not our intention to force mining companies into being manufacturers, but rather to address the challenges of the inaccessibility of our raw materials as an impediment to greater local beneficiation."

She indicated that she was happy with some of the initiatives taken by some companies to support the beneficiation strategy. "This work demonstrates their commitment to South Africa."

Mine health and safety

On mine health and safety, Shabangu said the government remained "gravely concerned" about the continued loss of lives at the country's mines.

She said the latest figures showed that fatalities in the industry had dropped by 3 percent from 127 in 2010 to 123 in 2011.

"Already this year, there have been 13 fatalities in the mining sector. The recent spate of fatalities is also a reflection of some CEOs' refusal to make meaningful changes and take personal responsibility for health and safety issues.

"Some of them value profits more than the lives of the people."

Source: BuaNews

First-world infrastructure plus a vibrant emerging market equals huge investment potential!

An extremely focused campaign has the "Dream Team" of Thulani (formerly Michael) Mbanjwa and Sibonelo Zondi in with a strong chance of becoming the first crew born and raised in the Valley of a Thousand Hills to win the Unlimited Dusi canoe marathon title.

The 120-kilometre race, from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, is one of the world's largest canoe marathons and one of the toughest too.

It passes through the Valley of a Thousand Hills, where plenty of work has been done to introduce the inhabitants to paddling, resulting in the emergence of some exceptional talent.

Mbanjwa and Zondi don't pretend to be anything other than top Dusi paddlers and unashamedly place the three-day race at the top of their priority list, and they're willing to carefully construct an entire year's worth of racing to achieve that goal.

Victories

While they have flown somewhat under the radar in recent weeks, their victories in the Best 4 Healthcare Rietvlei Rumble and the key Dusi qualifier, the Land Rover Durban Hansa 50 Miler, show clear signs that things are well on track for the pair.

The only hiccup in their carefully rolled-out campaign was a calf muscle injury Mbanjwa suffered at last year's World Marathon Championships in Singapore three-and-a-half months ago. By refusing to ease off from his tough training schedule, Mbanjwa heads into the Dusi with a slight question mark hanging over his fitness.

"We've been working really hard and we haven't held anything back, so things are looking good for us at the moment," he said.

"My calf was a little bit sore last week in training, so I can't say it's quite 100 percent, so after a hard first day who knows how it will be, but we've been training hard and I'm feeling good for now."

'Really excited'

Zondi added: "We've eased off a little bit now and are just touching up on a few things before next Thursday, but I’m feeling strong and I definitely think we are ready. I'm really excited and am really looking forward to getting things underway."

Having tasted Dusi victory once before when he sat behind his mentor Martin Dreyer, the vastly experienced Mbanjwa will now get his turn to take the reins and attempt to steer both he and his good friend and paddling partner to what would be a momentous victory in the race's rich history.

"I haven't driven much. Last year's Non-Stop Dusi, which Sibonelo and I won, was the first time I drove in a big race, but we had a good Vaal and have spent a lot more time in the boat together recently, so hopefully we can do the same in the Dusi this year," Mbanjwa said.

"It's very different sitting in the front of a K2 compared to the back. It's like going from a code 8 to a code 14 licence in a car, but we've been working really hard and have gotten a lot better, so I think it's fair to say I have now got my code 14 licence," he added with a smile.

Individually the two paddlers are remarkable athletes in their own right. However, it's not only their individual brilliance that makes this duo such a deadly combination.

'Very good friends'

"We've been very good friends for quite a while now, and we were close long before we decided to do Dusi together. Even when I was still living in Joburg, [Zondi] would come visit me and I often go to his house in Shongweni," said Mbanjwa.

"Our friendship and the amount of time we've spent in the boat together now, has really helped understand each other, and when you're in a K2 that is one of the biggest things.

"We understand how the other is feeling and we know when we can or can't push. It's also really nice knowing I've got Sibonelo behind me because he's the kind of guy who will always give it his all," he added.

Appreciation and respect

Having watched his idol work his way to the top of the paddling world from a similar situation to his own, Zondi has endless appreciation and respect for Mbanjwa and is hungry to impress in their biggest outing yet as a pair.

"It's really great to be able to paddle with Bungee (Mbanjwa)," said Zondi. "He's very experienced and has really helped me a lot and I'm really excited to be able to do Dusi with him!

"It would be so special if I was able to win it with Bungee. It is something I have dreamt about for a long time. Bungee has done it before with Martin [Dreyer], but I haven't [won], so I would love to try win it for the first time this year."

The Unlimited Dusi starts at Camps Drift in Pietermaritzburg and ends at Blue Lagoon in Durban. It runs from 16 to 18 February.

SAinfo reporter

Mountains and rivers

This is big sky country, with vast mountain ranges falling into lush river valleys.

7 February 2012

South African athlete Oscar Pistorius received the Laureus World Sportsperson with a Disability Award at a gala function in London on Monday evening.

He was recognised for his feat of becoming the first amputee to win a non-disabled World Championship track medal at the IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, as part of the South African 4x400 metres relay team that claimed the silver medal behind the USA.

He also made the semi-finals of the individual 400 metres in Daegu, the only South African to advance that far, after clocking a fast 45.39 seconds in the heats.

Previous South African winners

Pistorius is the third South African to be named a winner of the Laureus World Sportsperson with a Disability Award. Wheelchair racer Ernst van Dyk was honoured in 2006 and swimmer Natalie du Toit won in 2010.

He was up against stiff opposition for the title in the form of two-time Laureus winner, Dutch tennis star Esther Vergeer; five-time London Marathon wheelchair winner David Weir; Russian cross-country skier Irek Zaripov, a winner of five medals at the 2010 Winter Paralympics; Brazilian swimmer Daniel Dias, who won the Disability Award in 2009 and won seven gold medals at the 2010 IPC Paralympic Swimming World Championships; and visually impaired sprint star Terezinha Guilhermina, also of Brazil.

Pistorius was also a finalist for the World Breakthrough of the Year Award, which was won by Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy.

London Olympic Games

Known as the "Blade Runner", because he runs on prosthetic limbs, Pistorius has long been one of the leading lights in the world of the Paralympics. Now, after his success in Daegu, he is aiming to qualify for and make his mark at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

"This is just a great privilege to be nominated, it is really humbling to be here," said Pistorius after receiving the winner's statuette from skateboarding legend Tony Hawk and Spanish actress Elsa Pataky.

Laureus chairman Edwin Moses praised Pistorius after his win, saying: "Oscar is a remarkable human being, one of the most impressive people I have ever met. When you think of the challenges he has faced in his life, and overcome, and gone on to break new ground, you can only be impressed.

'Well-deserved award'

He added: "And he is now also a Laureus Ambassador and has shown his determination to support the cause of sport for good. I congratulate him on this well-deserved award."

The Laureus Sports Awards are the biggest awards on the international sporting calendar, with the Academy that selects the winners made up of 47 of the greatest sportsmen and sportswomen of all time. They include South African adventurer/explorer Mike Horn, golf legend Gary Player, who won the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003, and former Springbok captain Morné du Plessis.

This year's Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to English football legend Sir Bobby Charlton, while Raí Souza Vieira de Oliveira, a former Brazilian footballer, now a social justice campaigner, won the Laureus Sport for Good Award.

2012 LAUREUS AWARDS WINNERS

World Sportsman of the Year: Novak Djokovic
World Sportswoman of the Year: Vivian Cheruiyot
World Team of the Year: FC Barcelona
World Breakthrough of the Year: Rory McIlroy
World Comeback of the Year: Darren Clarke
World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability: Oscar Pistorius
World Action Sportsperson of the Year: Kelly Slater

The Rainbow Nation

South Africa is a culturally diverse country, one nation made up of many peoples.

The Department of Science and Technology is calling on learners from grades 8 to 11 to enter a competition aimed at raising awareness of South Africa's bid to host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA).

Learners have only to answer a few easy questions about the SKA to stand a chance of winning laptops, printers, digital cameras and organised tours to their nearest astronomy observatory.

South Africa, allied with eight other African countries, is competing against Australia (allied with New Zealand) to host the SKA, a mega radio telescope consisting of about 3 000 dish-shaped antennae with a combined collecting area of roughly one square kilometre.

At between 50 to 100 times more sensitive than any existing radio telescope, the SKA will be able to probe the edges of our universe, and help us to answer fundamental questions about the laws of nature and physics, including the study of so-called "dark energy" and "dark matter".

It will be a powerful virtual time machine, enabling scientists to "go back in time" to explore the origins of the first galaxies, stars and planets. If there is life somewhere else in the Milky Way galaxy, the SKA will help us find it.

If Africa wins the bid, the core of the telescope will be constructed in Carnarvon in the Karoo region of the Northern Cape, with outlying telescope stations in other parts of South Africa as well as Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Mauritius, Namibia and Zambia.

More information, and entry forms, are available on the SKA South Africa website www.ska.ac.za, the SA Agency for Science and Technology Advancement site www.saasta.ac.za and the Department of Science and Technology site www.dst.gov.za.

Entries marked "MeerKAT-SKA Schools Competition" may be posted to PO Box 1758, Pretoria, 0001, or delivered to SAASTA, Didacta Building, 211 Skinner Street, Pretoria.

The competition closes on 31 March 2012.

For more information about the competition, e-mail Anacletta Koloko at anacletta@saasta.ac.za.

Source: BuaNews

From outer space

View our collection of some of the best satellite images of South Africa.

While sipping on bottled water has become something of a lifestyle statement, a survey has revealed that most South Africans are happy with the high quality water that comes straight from their taps.

The survey, conducted by the Water Research Commission and South African Local Government Association between March and May 2011, investigated urban South Africans' perceptions of the quality of their water and the factors that influence these perceptions.

It found that 81 percent of urban South Africans from all income levels perceive their tap water to be safe to drink. This concurs with international studies which found that most people in countries with a reliable water supply perceived tap water as having a low safety risk.

South African water institutions are considered to provide some of the highest quality of drinking or potable water in the world.

The survey covered adults aged 16 years and older from all race groups. A random sample of 2 437 urban households was drawn.

Younger people more positive

The study also found that women were significantly less confident about the safety of tap water than men. Women were also more likely than men to boil or filter drinking water, and more inclined than men to drink only bottled water.

Younger people between the ages of 16 and 34 were more positive about the safety of drinking water than older people.

Consumers in the metro municipalities perceived their tap water to be significantly safer to drink than consumers in other urban municipalities.

Consumers in eThekwini Metro (Durban) had the highest consumer confidence in the safety of their tap water, whereas consumers in Mangaung Metro (Bloemfontein) had the least confidence.

Consumers of non-metro municipalities in the Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State and Mpumalanga provinces had the lowest confidence in the safety of their tap water.

Factors influencing perceptions

There was a wide range of factors which determined consumers' perceptions about the safety of drinking water, the main ones being the appearance of the water, its taste and smell, and people's bodily reactions to it.

A very small percentage of the population based their perception of the safety of tap water on what they heard or read in the media.

The leader of the survey, Dr Sarah Slabbert, said: "Although the scope of this study was small, it provides a baseline within which to compare future studies.

"It also gives the water sector and its stakeholders an understanding of how South Africans perceive the quality of drinking water. The findings have several implications for policy, management and further research."

The director for water use and waste management at the Water Research Commission, Jay Bhagwan, said the perception that tap water was clean and safe to drink and regularly tested was a major indicator of good municipal service.

Source: BuaNews