Staff from the University of Limpopo (UL) Biodiversity and Geography departments recently visited Grade 11 science learners at Mathew Ernest Makgato Secondary School in Seshego Zone 4 to educate them on the importance of preserving clean water systems in their community
The visit was part of a community engagement project called ‘Social Learning and Sustainable Development,’ which is being funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF) Communities of Practice. This project, done in collaboration with the South African Research Initiative (SARChI) Chairs and Prof Lotz-Sisitka from Rhodes University, is led by Prof Wilmien Luus-Powell, Chair of the DSI-NRF SARChI in Ecosystem Health at the UL Department of Biodiversity.
According to Prof Luus-Powell, through this engagement, they hoped to teach the learners how to determine the health status of their local river, as well as the importance of conserving fresh water sources for all living organisms, including humans, animals, and plants, who rely on them for survival. She disclosed that community engagement was also the department’s contribution to ensuring people’s access to clean water and sanitation, which is one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030.
Before going to the Molautsi River (Blood River) to conduct a science activity, the learners were taught in class about the necessary measures needed to monitor the health and quality of the water in their surrounding rivers. The learners were introduced to the SDGs and their significance, as well as the importance of preserving freshwater sources. They were also introduced to various career opportunities in sciences and degree options available at UL.
Following the lesson, the learners and staff members went to the local river to participate in a practical science activity in which they were assisted in identifying specific organisms that would inform them about the ecological status of the river. To achieve this, the learners were introduced to the South African Scoring System (SASS) and used mini-SASS kits, which are used to monitor the health of a river and measure the overall quality of the water in the river. It is based on the composition of macro-invertebrates (small animals) living in a specific site, as well as the sensitivity of the various animals to water quality.
In conducting this activity, staff members and learners were divided into groups, and each group went into the river to collect organisms using a small net and the ‘kicking method,’ which involved disturbing the river’s stones, vegetation, and sediment to find these organisms. The second step involved lifting stones out of the current and gently selecting organisms such as flatworms, leeches, and stoneflies for about five minutes using fingers or forceps. The learners then rinsed the net and placed the contents from the river, into a plastic tray. This was done to identify and record the organisms found in the river using a scoring sheet.
According to Dr. Millicent Kekana, a senior lecturer in the Department of Biodiversity, the scoring sheet will inform them whether the river is polluted or pristine, allowing them to make recommendations to community members on how to conserve water in the river.
Farina Lindeque and Ezelque Botha, lecturers in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, added that following the engagement, they will follow up with learners and assist them in capturing and sharing their findings on an interactive map created specifically for this activity.
Koketso Mokoena, a learner at the school described the experience as exciting, especially now that they will be able to share their findings and contribute to making recommendations to keep their local river clean.
“Our learners are now informed about the measures needed to keep our local river clean,” said Frank Mehale, Head of Sciences at the school.
“They can now make recommendations and encourage community members not to pollute the river by throwing certain objects in the river,” Mehale added.
Mehale said that more importantly, they would like to thank UL for bringing the career fair to the school.
By Evans Khalo