Featured Research: Sustainability

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Better prediction of tiny bloodsuckers to protect livestock

Most South Africans love eating meat, but animal diseases regularly threaten a constant, affordable supply.

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MSc student bridges the fields of chemistry and physics

Ané Kritzinger, a master’s student in the Department of Chemistry, is bridging the fields of chemistry and physics to develop an ultra-sensitive instrument for pollutant detection.

Talking Point

Planned seismic survey by Shell has kicked up a storm in South Africa. Here’s an explainer

The planned seismic survey off South Africa’s Wild Coast by energy company Shell has unleashed public outrage in the country and beyond. The survey’s aim is to search for oil and gas deposits. Environmental and human rights organisations and fishing communities are trying to block the move in court.

Talking Point

South Africa must address hesitancy to increase COVID vaccination: here’s how

In February 2021, as the first COVID-19 vaccinations were rolled out to healthcare workers in South Africa, there was a renewed sense of hope in the fight against SARS-CoV-2. At the time there were concerns around vaccine procurement and inequity in vaccine distribution. But in the latter part of the year the major obstacle was a slow uptake of the vaccine among the South African public.

Talking Point

How changes to South Africa’s value-added tax affect compliance among small firms

As the quote from US president Franklin D Roosevelt in 1936 suggests, governments across the world need to collect tax revenue to be able to provide public goods and services to their citizens. There are a number of forms of taxes. The most common taxes are personal income tax, corporate income tax, and value-added tax (VAT).

Talking Point

South Africa’s cave-dwelling bats need more protection – to keep people safe too

Caves are overlooked but essential parts of the natural world. Many animals use caves for shelter and for raising their young – bats among them. Caves are often home to multiple bat species. Bats may also use different caves for specific reasons; some travel to particular selected caves, known as maternity caves, just to have their pups. This means that large populations of bats rely on a...