JOHANNESBURG , 19 August 2010 (IRIN) – A cheap and effective filtering device developed by a South African university could provide safe drinking water to millions of people, drastically reducing the incidence of waterborne illnesses such as cholera and other diarrhoeal diseases. The device resembles a teabag in both size and shape, and was invented by microbiologists, scientists and polymer researchers at the University of Stellenbosch in Western Cape Province. It is being patented and commercial production could start as soon as the end of 2010. The biodegradable teabag is filled with active carbon granules, while the sachet – made... Continue Reading
SOUTH AFRICA – The Wits School of Arts, Dramatic Art and Drama for Life (DfL), in association with the University of Pretoria (UP) Music Therapy, the UP Drama Department, the South African Association of Dramatherapists (SAAD) and the South African Network for Arts Therapies Organisation (Sanato), will host the third Africa Research Conference in Applied Drama and Theatre titled Arts Activism, Education and Therapies: Transforming Communities across Africa. Building on the previous two conferences, which were held to further stimulate research in applied drama and theatre in Africa, this year’s conference extends its focus to include the practice and theorising... Continue Reading
When Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was elected Liberia’s president—and Africa’s only female head of state—in 2005, she inherited a country decimated by years of violence. Between 1989 and 2003, two horrific civil wars had killed as many as 250,000 of Liberia’s 3 million people, and displaced thousands more; more than 15,000 U.N. peacekeepers were deployed on the ground to maintain a fragile peace. At the time of her election, Sirleaf—who held positions at the World Bank and the U.N. before her political run–told NEWSWEEK, “I’m most concerned with being a mother to Liberia. I want to heal the deep wounds of... Continue Reading
By Emeka Umejei (Lagos) – Diaspora committee of the Nigerian Federal House of Representative has demanded for justice over murder of Theophilus Anoliefo , a Nigerian in Johannesburg allegedly by South African Police recently. Chairman of the committee, Honourable Abike Dabiri-Erewa described the murder as another sad story involving Nigerians in the Diaspora and demanded for justice as means of averting extrajudicial killing of foreigners in South Africa. “This is another sad story involving Nigerians in Diaspora and Justice must be done to avert further extrajudicial killings to foreigners in South Africa,” Dabiri Erewa charged . According to Dabiri –Erewa,... Continue Reading
The SA Blog Awards for 2010 nomination phase is open. It’s that time of year again when the bloggers of South Africa ask their readers to vote for their blogs. 2010 sees a new CEO with Cape Town Businessman and radio personality JP Naude at the helm. Naude says “The blogosphere in South Africa has grown tremendously with our statistics showing more that 9500 registered bloggers currently ranked with Afrigator, our official blog statistics measuring company”. The 2010 SA Blog Awards supported by News24 this year has 25 categories including the overall SA Blogger of the year category. The awards... Continue Reading
