Latest news with #Louw
Daily Maverick
2 days ago
- Daily Maverick
Cape Town's Zandvlei faces recreational shutdown amid alarming E. coli contamination levels
Cape Town's Zandvlei Estuary, specifically the area opposite the Imperial Yacht Club, has been closed to all recreational water sports. This follows consecutive E. coli readings exceeding the threshold for intermediate contact recreation. A significant portion of Zandvlei, Cape Town's only functioning estuary in False Bay, has this week been closed to all recreational water activities by the City of Cape Town as the authority of the Zandvlei Nature Reserve. This temporary closure comes after consecutive water quality readings revealed E. coli levels exceeding 4,000 CFU/100ml, surpassing the threshold for intermediate contact recreation. While the exact source of the contamination remains under investigation, observations from various stakeholders and the City of Cape Town indicate that compromised inflows from the Sand River canal are a major contributing factor. Officials are still conducting water quality monitoring and will continue in the coming weeks. They said the affected section would be reopened once results consistently returned to acceptable levels. The closure, according to various stakeholders, reveals a deepening environmental crisis facing Zandvlei and its broader catchment. The recurring issue of elevated E. coli levels, particularly during winter with rainfall flushing pollutants, has been described as a systemic problem across water bodies that stakeholders say demands urgent and comprehensive intervention beyond temporary closures. Zandvlei is an estuary, the last remaining functional estuary in the entire False Bay, and is a highly complex and integrated system starting in the Constantia mountains as the catchment area and ending at Muizenberg's Blue Flag beach. The temporary closure of a large section of this estuary has already significantly affected both recreational users and the broader community. The closure also extends its reach to local bathers and surfers at Muizenberg Beach, where the estuary flows into the sea, raising concerns about their health and safety due to the compromised water quality. Businesses along the Muizenberg beachfront, heavily reliant on beach users, could also face potential 'catastrophic' economic repercussions if the pollution issues persist. This is on top of the impact on Zandvlei's fragile ecosystem. Jennifer Louw, the chairperson of the Catchment Forum, told Daily Maverick: 'Currently the usability of the vlei is not ensured due to the compromised state of the catchment from top to bottom. 'The waters are often contaminated and huge amounts of pollutants lie trapped in the sediment that has accumulated in the vlei. This is a result of the condition of every river and stream fed by stormwater from every road and every roof and paved area in the catchment.' She said their vision was to see the vlei improve from its current ecological rating of level D to level C, and then to Level B. Louw said the levels were graded from A, which is pristine, to E, which is basically permanently eutrophic. 'This is a long-term goal that needs the comprehensive Catchment Management Plan backed by policy and policing in order to achieve. We must aim high as only this way can we achieve improvements,' said Louw. Zandvlei's hard-won progress jeopardised by pollution Liz Day, a specialist freshwater ecologist, said that water quality and associated ecosystem function had been improving in Zandvlei over the past one to two years, with this being 'Cape Town's only current functional estuary'. Day said that while healthy estuaries may be able to recover quickly from short-lived sewage spills, prolonged exposure to raw sewage could have major long-term ecological effects. 'Zandvlei has been the only estuary in the city that has been improving over the past one or two years, and this setback needs to be taken very seriously and addressed, particularly in light of the investment by the City in the Liveable Urban Waterways projects in this catchment,' said Day. The exact source of the pollution behind this recent closure is still under investigation, but Day said that the site ZA02S, where the E. coli level was exceeded, lay downstream of the Westlake River, the Sand Canal and parts of the Marina. Day said that any of these might have been exposed to sewage overflows. 'High E. coli readings usually indicate inflows of raw sewage, which are associated with phosphorus enrichment (promoting often-nuisance plant growth), elevated ammonia (toxic to aquatic organisms at low concentrations) and high chemical and biological demands, which can result in plugs of low oxygen passing through aquatic ecosystems,' said Day. Impact on the local community Damian Gibbs, the chairperson of the Zandvlei Trust, told Daily Maverick that closing Zandvlei had profoundly affected recreational and professional sporting use. Zandvlei had hosted national, provincial and world championship paddling events, regular school sailing programmes and inter-school regattas, and was a training venue for international professional windsurfers. Gibbs said regular closing of the water had had a negative effect on these activities. This was on top of other cultural ways Zandvlei was used; it was often used by youth-oriented organisations including scouting, guides and sea cadets, which held regular water-based programmes. As Zandvlei was an estuary and flowed out into the sea at Muizenberg Beach, Gibbs said the water quality should also be of great concern to local bathers and surfers. 'The businesses along Muizenberg beach front and surrounding area are largely supported by regular beach users, and should Zandvlei not be able to cope with the regular pollution levels, the economic 'run-off' effect on surrounding businesses would be catastrophic,' said Gibbs. In addition, a direct impact was that groups working at the vlei and in the waterways that flowed into the vlei were not able to carry out their work as usual. Louw warned that litter and invasive plants could not be removed from the water where it was deeper, and said wading was necessary, 'thus their work is being hampered'. 'We appeal to the City to take more proactive measures to address the water quality in Zandvlei. It is a regular winter cycle with the fluctuating E. coli levels and regular closure warning notices associated with rainfall flushing pollutants from the catchment area into and through Zandvlei, and out to sea at Muizenberg Beach,' said Gibbs. City spokesperson Luthando Tyhalibongo told Daily Maverick that their investigation into the source of the elevated pollution levels involved pollution tracking of all possible sources, and additional sampling was ongoing. When asked how frequently officials were conducting water quality monitoring, Tyhalibongo said: 'Resampling is subject to capacity, but is aimed for a minimum of weekly until the situation changes. The next sampling effort has already been confirmed for midweek, and again early next week.' The E. coli reading must be below 4,000 CFU for safe recreational use. The root causes of pollution Gibbs pointed to several factors contributing to the pollution, including concrete canals used as dumping grounds, sewage spills from pump failures, businesses along the canals dumping oil and other liquids, runoff from farms that used fertilisers, herbicides and insecticides, and the City spraying Glyphosate on verges after which runoff ended up in the stormwater systems and eventually in Zandvlei. Louw, from Catchment Forum, said there was a need for 'constant monitoring and being the eyes on the ground to help the City identify a problem'. Blockages in the system were 'most often caused by residents and businesses flushing inappropriate materials into the systems, as well as residents and restaurants adding fats that then adhere to pipes and cause narrowing and blocks', said Louw. This necessitated that communities and businesses be constantly urged to apply better practices to waste disposal. Louw said the dire state of the Zandvlei catchment required collective responsibility, as upstream residents significantly contributed to downstream pollution through improper land management and waste. 'The troubles downstream are often only experienced by residents there, yet residents upstream are a major part of the problem… Only collectively, by placing the health of the ecosystem that we all rely on first, can we achieve the goals of a healthy vlei and its catchment into the future,' said Louw. Gibbs said that the Zandvlei Trust actively monitored and emptied garbage collection nets in the Sand River, which was 'soul-destroying work to witness the trash coming down the river', said Gibbs. Thee amounts were in excess of 75 truckloads each winter — and this only accounted for visible pollutants. Day warned that with rapidly increasing development, both residential and business pollutant-rich runoff was increasing, and the catchment system could not cope with these increases. 'From top to bottom and across that catchment a plan based on a vision of healthy water bodies needs to urgently be compiled. Unless we develop our city in a way that supports a healthy water cycle, our waters will continue on the downward trajectory that we are on,' said Day. The city's Liveable Urban Waterways projects are an important part of Cape Town's future water health, and it is significant that the City earlier this year reversed a budgetary decision that was set to delay key river rehabilitation projects under this programme for up to 10 years. These projects, along the Grootboschkloof, Westlake and Keyser rivers within the Sand River Catchment, will commence in the 2025/26 financial year and are designed as nature-based solutions to protect the catchment from pollution and degradation. But Day said the 13 projects planned for the catchment in this programme would not be able to mitigate the impacts that urbanisation would have on the sustainability of the environment. 'The time has come to place the health of the environment as a top priority next to economic growth for our city. The Catchment Management Plan is critical to the health of the vlei, to property values all along the waterways and to the health and economic wellbeing of our catchment area,' said Day. Tracing pollution to its source The City's Scientific Services Branch is currently resampling affected areas of the vlei, including an additional sampling point, to pinpoint the source of pollution. Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Zahid Badroodien, said: 'Initial speculation is that it is a blocked sewer overflow entering the Sand River Canal. River results support this conjecture. Results are expected in the next 24 hours.' Badroodien said there was a pervasive issue of pollution in Cape Town's urban waterways. The contamination stemmed from various human activities, including littering, illegal dumping, night soil and greywater. Despite ongoing waste removal efforts, Badroodien said illegal dumping and foreign objects in sewer manholes continued to cause blockages and overflows into stormwater systems. Badroodien reiterated the City's commitment to improving water quality within its rivers, acknowledging existing legal, budgetary and other constraints. To address these challenges, the City's Water and Sanitation Directorate was investing a substantial R4.9-billion for the 2025/2026 financial year. This investment targeted critical infrastructure upgrades, including R31-million for Liveable Urban Waterways projects and R1.81-billion for the expansion and upgrades of wastewater treatment works across the city. On Thursday, the City announced that it would be going ahead with the Sand and Langevlei Canals confluence, having secured environmental authorisation from the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning. This paves the way for a project expected to deliver multifaceted benefits to the Zandvlei catchment, including reduced silt and litter entering Zandvlei, leading to improved water quality, enhanced aquatic biodiversity, and a renewed wetland area. DM
Eyewitness News
7 days ago
- Sport
- Eyewitness News
Springboks overcome Wiese red card to crush Italy
Fischetti followed Louw to the sin bin three minutes later and replacement loose forward David Odiase was yellow-carded in the closing stages. Amid the mayhem, full-back Willie le Roux became the eighth Springbok to win 100 caps. He received rapturous applause when substituted midway through the second half. Back Ethan Hooker and forwards Asenathi Ntlabakanye and Cobus Wiese - a brother of Jasper - made their Test debuts off the bench in a second half that became increasingly scrappy. A South African side showing 11 changes to the starting line-up after a mixed first Test performance last weekend scored seven tries to the delight of a capacity 44,282 crowd in the eastern coastal city. Winger Edwill van der Merwe, recalled after a 13-month absence, scored twice in the first half and scrum-half Grant Williams and centre Canan Moodie also crossed the tryline. After missing his first two conversions with kicks that veered left of the near post, fly-half Manie Libbok succeeded with the next two and South Africa led 24-0 at half-time. The record four-time Rugby World Cup winners added another three tries in the second half through hooker Malcolm Marx, winger Makazole Mapimpi and replacement hooker Jan-Hendrik Wessels. Libbok converted them all to finish for a personal tally of 10 points, and his mix of kicking and running was impressive in an electric atmosphere. Italy, fielding only five of the starters in a narrow Six Nations Championship loss to Ireland last March, rarely threatened to score and conceded many penalties. South Africa will return to action next Saturday in Mbombela, where they face Georgia in a one-off Test.
The Citizen
06-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Ruiters close rugby season on a high note
The Laerskool Die Ruiter rugby teams had an incredible season, with all teams making it to the finals of the Primary Schools Golden Lions league. On June 23, the teams took to the field at Hoërskool Florida to compete in the highly anticipated finals. The U9 team, coached by Reuben Louw, played against Laerskool Esperanza and shared the trophy after a thrilling 10–10 draw. Despite sharing the victory, Louw was proud of his team's immense improvement throughout the league. 'I wish they could grow together as a team because they work well together and understand the strategy.' The U10 team, coached by Marno Viljoen, also put up a good fight against Laerskool Esperanza but ultimately lost 26–15. Despite the loss, Viljoen was proud of the team's progress, noting that they had lost 42–0 to the same school just two weeks prior. 'The boys showed tremendous improvement going to the finals, and they fought a good fight,' he said. In a historic moment for the school, the U11 team claimed a convincing 17–0 victory over Laerskool Die President in the finals. Coach Lou Janse van Rensburg was overjoyed with the team's performance and said the school made history when all their rugby teams made it to the finals. 'We had a good season indeed. The teams fought their way to the finals. We're proud of them, and this is the team we can put our faith in.' The U13 team narrowly lost to Orchids Primary in the finals, with a score of 36–10. Despite the loss, the team had a remarkable season, and their dedication and perseverance earned them a spot in the finals. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The South African
16-06-2025
- General
- The South African
Religious groups fined for starting latest fire in Table Mountain National Park
South African National Parks (SANParks) has issued fines to several religious groups found illegally starting fires in Table Mountain National Park, after a wildfire broke out just below Boyes Drive between Lakeside and Muizenberg on Sunday morning. The fire, which ignited in Peck's Valley, quickly prompted a multi-agency response but was successfully contained without any damage to property. However, a Wildfire Services volunteer had to be treated for smoke inhalation. When South Africans connect, we don't just network; we build a community. The Lekker Network is a professional network where every conversation starts with, 'How can I help you?' Come join us & be a part of a community of extraordinary Saffas. According to SANParks spokesperson JP Louw, park rangers found multiple religious groups in the area, allegedly engaging in unauthorised fire-related rituals. These groups were removed from the site and fined for violating fire safety regulations. 'They were removed from the site and fined for violating fire safety regulations,' Louw confirmed. 'Mop-up operations are currently underway.' While Boyes Drive has since been reopened, SANParks is urging the public to avoid nearby trails and fire-affected areas, citing safety concerns and ongoing operations in the vicinity. Louw warned that Table Mountain National Park remains highly vulnerable to wildfires, particularly during the dry and windy winter season, and emphasised the importance of strict adherence to fire safety regulations. The incident has once again highlighted ongoing tensions between religious worship practices – often conducted in secluded natural areas – and park safety regulations. While SANParks acknowledged the significance of spiritual use of the land, it reiterated that lighting fires in the park is strictly prohibited outside of designated areas. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Extra.ie
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Extra.ie
Wilco 'The Fridge' Louw has the ability to derail Leinster's URC title dream
Apparently the only thing more destructive than Wilco Louw's scrummaging is his handshake. The giant Bulls tighthead is renowned for putting the squeeze on opposition props and it's the same story when he extends one of his giant mitts to greet someone. Frans Ludeke, one of his former coaches, once joked that he'd rather greet Louw with a kiss rather than a handshake, such is the power of the man. Pic: PHILL MAGAKOE/AFP via Getty Images The 30-year-old clearly makes a strong impression on people. It's been the same story on the pitch where the South African frontrower is winning rave reviews. It's not just Louw's scrummaging which is earning plaudits, the Bulls prop is very much a modern frontrow forward and offers plenty around the pitch. Many former coaches have been left stunned by this 21-stone prop's athleticism and ability get around the park. He shares Andrew Porter's stamina on the pitch, too. Louw regularly gets through 60 or 70-minute shifts on the URC beat when it's traditional for tightheads to get called ashore after 50 minutes at the coalface. Louw's performances have been so good this season that many fans and commentators back in his native land feel that he should have been recently crowned South Africa's United Rugby Championship Player of the Season, and not Stormers star Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. Wilco Louw. Pic: Gordon Arons/Jake White, his head coach at the Bulls, felt Louw would have been a worthy recipient. 'I'm obviously biased, but I just think that what he's done for our team just by putting him there has allowed us to play the way we do,' he said recently. 'When did you ever get a tighthead prop who's been nominated for a prize in South Africa. I genuinely hope that he wins it because everyone spoke about what the premium is on tightheads.' And Louw has been demonstrating his value all season. The Bulls scrum have statistically the strongest scrum in the URC this term. Worryingly for Leinster, Louw and his comrades have won a whopping 46 scrum penalties in the league this far. Leinster are going to feel the heat in Croker, that's for sure. He has been brutally effective in a Bulls side which will feature in a third URC final when they face down Leinster in Croke Park on Saturday evening. White's side are quietly confident they can storm Dublin and seal victory, especially with such a powerful scrummaging weapon. No doubt, Leo Cullen and his players have already poured over footage of the Bulls' semi-final win against the Sharks last weekend. The home pack destroyed their South African counterparts at scrum time, with Louw lording it in his battle with Springbok loosehead Ox Nche, widely regarded as one of the premier set-piece technicians in the game. Porter, who will be packing down against a player known as the 'The Fridge', is about to face a fierce scrummaging challenge. Louw is being widely touted as one of the best tightheads on the globe at the moment, and rightly so. Amazingly, he has not featured for the Springboks in almost four years, playing the last of his 14 Tests in 2021. The presence of Frans Malherbe and Vincent Koch, a pair of world-leading tighthead props, has been one reason, while Louw's nomadic career perhaps didn't help his international prospects either. A shy character who grew up on the family farm in Wolseley, a small town about 130km from Cape Town, Louw rose through the ranks and quickly caught the eye of the Bulls before a stint with the Stormers. There followed stints with Toulon and a three-year stay with Harlequins, where he won rave reviews in a powerful frontrow alongside Joe Marler, before returning to the Bulls in 2023. And Louw has been a smash hit since he came back to Pretoria. His appetite for scrummaging has been noted by coaches and teammates. 'I don't think that you are going to get a game where you are going to get as tough opposition as you will get from Wilco on a Tuesday or Thursday scrumming session,' White noted recently.'The one thing that amazes me about Wilco, often players who are good at that, don't do it often. They like to let other players go in at scrum time. He doesn't miss a scrum. You actually have to physically say 'you have to swap'. He will stay there the whole session because that obviously is what he wants to get better at and pride himself on.'We say it and it is not nice to single out a player, but since he has arrived, the mere fact that our scrum has improved is because of the effort he puts in at scrum time.' Uncompromising forward play has always been part of the DNA of the Bulls. The Loftus Versfeld crowd enjoy a big scrum as much as an 80-metre counter attack. Louw's international exile will surely come to an end soon. Indeed, he was recently named in an extended training squad by South Africa boss Rassie Erasmus. Now aged 30, he is the prime age for a tighthead, a position where players tend to get better with age. Louw is in the form of his life and will back himself to make the Springboks No3 jersey his won ahead of the 2027 World Cup, especially with Malherbe and Koch nearing the end of their distinguished careers. The big question is whether Porter and Co will be able to contain Louw at GAA HQ? When it comes to the scrum. The Leinster loosehead has fallen on the wrong side of referees in the past. The World Cup quarter-final defeat by the All Blacks immediately springs to mind and if referee Andrea Piardi feels Louw has got the edge in this area then the Bulls will have a strong foothold in this final. As the Springboks demonstrated at the past two World Cups, a dominant scrum can get you a long way in knockout rugby. This Bulls behemoth will take some stopping this weekend.
