Page 52 - SAMRC Annual Report 2023-24

national wastewater coronavirus surveillance team, In celebration of 30 years of
and (5) New bioactive compounds of health and democracy in South Africa
biotechnological importance. Data collected in
these projects have been published and resulted in South Africa is a water-scarce country with sizeable
over 25 journal articles. regional disparities in access to piped water and
with a large proportion of the population having to
Equitable capacity development depend on other sources of water, including surface

for empowering communities and underground water sources for their domestic,
agricultural, recreational and other needs. These
Our EMU has been a veritable hub for capacity water bodies are vulnerable to pollution from various
development, especially amongst previously sources resulting in key water, sanitation and public
disadvantaged demographic groups in the country. health challenges. Also, the shortage of skills in the
Indeed, during the reporting period, we have trained water and sanitation sectors remains a challenge
12 doctoral and 13 masters students. Of the doctoral in South Africa that deserves attention in line with
students, 8 were females, while 4 were males; and the objectives of the National Water Act, 1998
of the masters students, 9 were females while (Act No. 36 of 1998), and both the White Paper on
4 were males, which is consistent with the national Science and Technology; and the National Research
agenda of empowerment of the female gender. and Development Strategy which recognises that
Ten Honours students made up of 9 females and South Africa is in a state of "frozen demographics"
1 male, all South Africans are also undergoing with respect to skills and capacity development in
training in this cycle. About 80% of all these students S&T especially amongst previously disadvantaged
are black South Africans. demographic groups in the country.

Science for creating a Our work, especially in the Eastern Cape Province,
healthier society which is mainly rural, and the reality that our students
are mainly from the previously disadvantaged
Our unit publishes its research findings in reputable demographic groups speaks to these strategies.
journals as well as at national and international Also, is the government's goal of addressing the triple
conferences during the reporting period. Indeed, challenges of reduction of poverty, unemployment
this has helped our EMU maintain its status as the and inequality in the country. In this regard, several
most productive research entity at the University students have been trained and attained higher
of Fort Hare since the review conducted by the degree qualifications from projects in our EMU,
University in 2022 on all centres, units and institutes which makes them competitive in the job market. All
at the University. I am pleased to remark that we graduates from our EMU have gained employment
have sustained this record since the creation of our or pursuing higher degrees and thus have assisted
EMU in 2015 to date. in breaking the shackles of poverty in their families.

Microbial Water Quality Monitoring Research Unit on a research visit to the United Arab Emirates in 2023.

50 SAMRC ANNUAL REPOR T 2023-24