Social dynamics fuelling the spread of HIV/AIDS in the Free State: implications for prevention, care, treatment and support

This article examines some of the socio-economic and socio-cultural factors that may have shaped a social context conducive to the spread of HIV/AIDS in the Free State. Among the factors identified driving the spread of the disease in this province, low levels of socio-economic development, population mobility, and gender inequality are paramount. The article further reasons that the successful implementation of strategies aimed at HIV prevention, treatment and care, such as the Comprehensive Plan of 2003, hinges on the social context enhancing or inhibiting the implementation thereof. Lastly, it is reasoned that the issues of planning and strategy development for the prevention of HIV/AIDS should slot into broader social policy and planning at the national and provincial levels.  Amongst others, this would include policy and planning that target those socio-economic and socio-cultural forces which are fuelling the spread of the disease

Public finances, service delivery, and mine closure in Koffiefontein (Free State, South Africa): From stepping stone to stumbling block

This article examines the interrelationship between mining activities, the local municipality, and public finance in Koffiefontein (Letsemeng Local Municipality). The international literature suggests that, all over the world, mine closure has had a severe negative influence on municipal and public finances. Furthermore, addressing the influence of mine closure requires the involvement of all spheres of government. After being historically dependent on the mining industry, the beginning of the 1990s saw a major downscaling of this industry. The existing symbiosis benefits the municipality to a large degree; but in view of possible mine closure, a high level of dependence has been created in Koffiefontein. It is argued in the article that mine closure will influence negatively municipal revenue and service delivery and will increase the number of indigent households. In order to address these problems, specific planning should be conducted for mine closure. The contribution of various spheres of government is also needed, since such planning cannot be managed by the Local Municipality alone

A review of biophysical and socio-economic effects of unconventional oil and gas extraction - implications for South Africa

The impacts associated with unconventional oil and gas (UOG) extraction will be cumulative in nature and will most likely occur on a regional scale, highlighting the importance of using strategic decision-making and management tools. Managing possible impacts responsibly is extremely important in a water scarce country such as South Africa, versus countries where more water may be available for UOG extraction activities. This review article explains the possible biophysical and socioeconomic impacts associated with UOG extraction within the South African context and how these complex impacts interlink. Relevant policy and governance frameworks to manage these impacts are also highlighted.The Water Research Commission, South Africa, is thanked for providing funding for this research.http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jenvman2017-12-31hb2017Geolog

Vulnerability mapping as a tool to manage the environmental impacts of oil and gas extraction

Various biophysical and socio-economic impacts may be associated with unconventional oil and gas (UOG) extraction. A vulnerability map may assist governments during environmental assessments, spatial planning and the regulation of UOG extraction, as well as decision-making around UOG extraction in fragile areas. A regional interactive vulnerability map was developed for UOG extraction in South Africa. This map covers groundwater, surface water, vegetation, socio-economics and seismicity as mapping themes, based on impacts that may emanate from UOG extraction. The mapping themes were developed using a normative approach, where expert input during the identification and classification of vulnerability indicators may increase the acceptability of the resultant map. This article describes the development of the interactive vulnerability map for South Africa, where UOG extraction is not yet allowed and where regulations are still being developed to manage this activity. The importance and policy implications of using vulnerability maps for managing UOG extraction impacts in countries where UOG extraction is planned are highlighted in this article.The Water Research Commission, South Africahttp://rsos.royalsocietypublishing.orgam2018Geolog

MIKE-SHE integrated groundwater and surface water model used to simulate scenario hydrology for input to DRIFT-ARID: the Mokolo River case study

A fully integrated, physically-based MIKE SHE/MIKE11 model was developed for the Mokolo River basin flow system to simulate key hydraulic and hydrologic indicator inputs to the Downstream Response to Imposed Flow Transformation for Arid Rivers (DRIFT-ARID) decision support system (DSS). The DRIFT-ARID tool is used in this study to define environmental water requirements (EWR) for non-perennial river flow systems in South Africa to facilitate ecosystembased management of water resources as required by the National Water Act (Act No. 36 of 1998). Fifty years of distributed daily climate data (1950 to 2000) were used to calibrate the model against decades of daily discharge data at various gauges, measurements of Mokolo Dam stage levels, and one-time groundwater level measurements at hundreds of wells throughout the basin. Though the calibrated model captures much of the seasonal and post-event stream discharge response characteristics, lack of sub-daily climate and stream discharge data limits the ability to calibrate the model to event-level system response (i.e. peak flows). In addition, lack of basic subsurface hydrogeologic characterisation and transient groundwater level data limits the ability to calibrate the groundwater flow model, and therefore baseflow response, to a high level. Despite these limitations, the calibrated model was used to simulate changes in hydrologic and hydraulic indicators at five study sites within the basin for five 50-year land-use change scenarios, including a present-day (with dam), natural conditions (no development/irrigation), and conversion of present-day irrigation to game farm, mine/city expansion, and a combination of the last two. Challenges and recommendations for simulating the range of non-perennial systems are presented.Keywords: hydrology, non-perennial, MIKE SHE, integrated surface and groundwater modellin

DRIFT-ARID: A method for assessing environmental water requirements (EWRs) for non-perennial rivers

Environmental water requirement (EWR) assessment methods, for ascertaining how much water should be retained in rivers to sustain ecological functioning and desired levels of biodiversity, have mostly been developed for perennial rivers. Despite non-perennial rivers comprising about 30–50% of the world’s freshwater systems, data on their hydrology, biota and ecological functioning are sparse. Current EWR assessments require hydrological and other data that may not be available for such rivers and some adaptation in the methods used seems necessary. DRIFT is an EWR method for perennial (or near-perennial) rivers that has been developed in South Africa over the past two decades and is now widely applied nationally and internationally. When applied to the semi-permanent Mokolo River, challenges particular to, or accentuated by, non-perennial rivers included the reliable simulation of hydrological data, the extent of acceptable extrapolation of data, difficulties in predicting surface-water connectivity along the river, and the location and resilience of pools, as well as whether it was possible to identify a reference (natural) condition. DRIFT-ARID, reported on here, is an adaptation of the DRIFT approach to begin addressing these and other issues. It consists of 11 phases containing 29 activities.Keywords: EWR, non-perennial, DRIFT, DS

Social dynamics fuelling the spread of HIV/AIDS in the Free State: implications for prevention, care, treatment and support

This article examines some of the socio-economic and socio-cultural factors that may have shaped a social context conducive to the spread of HIV/AIDS in the Free State. Among the factors identified driving the spread of the disease in this province, low levels of socio-economic development, population mobility, and gender inequality are paramount. The article further reasons that the successful implementation of strategies aimed at HIV prevention, treatment and care, such as the Comprehensive Plan of 2003, hinges on the social context enhancing or inhibiting the implementation thereof. Lastly, it is reasoned that the issues of planning and strategy development for the prevention of HIV/AIDS should slot into broader social policy and planning at the national and provincial levels.  Amongst others, this would include policy and planning that target those socio-economic and socio-cultural forces which are fuelling the spread of the disease

Mining, migration and misery: Exploring the HIV/AIDS nexus in the Free State goldfields of South Africa

Over the past few years a growing body of literature has explored the link between patterns of HIV/AIDS in South Africa and the system of migrant labour which is inextricably linked to the mining industry (Horwitz 2001; Jack 2001; Lurie 2000; Pelser 2003). A historical look at patterns of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) reveals a complex network of sexual relations in which migrants and their partners are at a higher risk of contracting HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases than other couples. Research has also shown that migrant workers in South Africa and elsewhere, probably as a result of their living and personal conditions while away from their homes, are particularly inclined to participate in risky sexual behaviour. The system of men moving away from their families for long periods, is thus seen by some analysts as creating a geographical network of sexual relations in urban and rural areas, a market for prostitution in towns, as well as conditions on the mines and in the hostels which encourage and facilitate the spread of HIV (Cf. Lurie et al. 2003; Zuma et al. 2003: White 2003; Lagarde et al. 2003)