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229 documents from WWF South Africa
Water, water everywhere – but not a drop to drink
The document examines desalination as a potential water source for Cape Town, noting that while it provides a rainfall-independent supply, it is often the most expensive option and carries significant energy and environmental costs. It details existing small-scale plants in South African municipalities and warns against over-investing in large-scale facilities based on experiences in Australia.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Youth Voices
The statement argues that South Africa is failing to adequately address climate change, pollution, and food and water security. It urges Minister Barbara Creecy to invest in youth by prioritising nature and people to create jobs and environmental thriving.
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Document type: Statement
At the same table: small-scale fishers find power in partnership
The South Coast Small-Scale and Community Fishing Forum, established in April 2023 with WWF support, represents over 500 fishers across eight co-operatives in KwaZulu-Natal. The Forum has improved co-operative governance by enabling bank account openings and tax compliance, and has provided technical training in skipper skills, species identification, and leadership. Strategic partnerships have also created local employment and enhanced maritime safety, promoting a co-management approach to marine conservation and community livelihoods.
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Document type: Case study
Wednesday Water File #5: community
The guide encourages community-led cooperation to cope with water scarcity, arguing that individual stockpiling is insufficient. It suggests identifying local resources—such as plumbing skills, transport, and communication networks—and forming inclusive groups to coordinate water-saving efforts and emergency planning. The text emphasizes maintaining communication with city officials and suggests that external aid should focus on long-term infrastructure, like rainwater tanks and leak repairs, rather than bottled water.
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Document type: Guide
Water File
The document details water stress in cities including São Paulo, Mexico City, Karachi, Los Angeles, Nairobi, Brisbane, and Seville, highlighting the roles of poor planning, climate-driven drought, and infrastructure failure. It advocates for a transition to climate-resilient water budgets through demand reduction, diversified water sources, and improved governance to avoid 'Day Zero' scenarios.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Making A Business Case For Sustainable Dairy Production
A report by WWF South Africa detailing a case study of 62 pasture-based dairy farms to examine the link between economic profitability and environmental sustainability in dairy production.
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Document type: Report
Hoekom ons die verspreiding van Covid-19 dringend moet vertraag
The document explains that Covid-19 is a highly contagious respiratory virus that requires the slowing of its spread to prevent healthcare systems from being overwhelmed. It details the importance of national lockdowns, identifies high-risk groups—including the elderly and those with HIV, TB, or diabetes—and provides specific hygiene protocols, such as handwashing and social distancing. It also offers guidance on managing symptoms at home and supporting community mental health during isolation.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Climate extremes underscore why South Africa must act now
South Africa faces increasing vulnerability to climate extremes, including droughts in the west and intense rainfall in the east, with economic costs reaching billions of rand. Despite the Climate Change Act of 2024 mandating a national adaptation plan, implementation is lagging. The energy sector, responsible for nearly 80% of national emissions, is identified as the most critical area for mitigation through the upcoming Integrated Energy Plan (IEP). WWF proposes a 'People's Energy Plan' as a feasible path to net zero CO2 emissions by mid-century that supports developmental growth and employment.
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Document type: Statement
Outcome 2 - Improved freshwater quality and quantity
WWF South Africa collaborated with government, business, and civil society to improve freshwater quality and quantity through strategic water source area partnerships. Key initiatives included hiring full-time coordinators for the uMhlathuze and uMkhomazi partnerships, implementing real-time monitoring tools, and protecting 43 natural springs in the uMzimvubu Catchment Partnership. These efforts were supported by funding from Mondi, Sappi, Nedbank, and Sanlam.
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Document type: Report
Illustrative People’s Energy Plan (IPEP)
The Illustrative People’s Energy Plan (IPEP), developed by WWF South Africa and the Energy Systems Research Group (ESRG) at the University of Cape Town, serves as a model for a transparent, climate-friendly energy plan for South Africa. It aims to show how the country can fulfill climate commitments while maintaining affordable and reliable energy, filling a gap left by the absence of a national Integrated Energy Plan (IEP) for over twenty years.
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Document type: Executive summary
Covid-19 info pack
The document outlines the nature of Covid-19, emphasizing the need to "flatten the curve" through social distancing and hygiene to prevent healthcare system collapse. It provides specific instructions on hand washing, self-isolation, and the use of masks, while addressing South Africa's unique challenges such as limited water access and high rates of HIV and TB. Additionally, it offers guidance on managing workplace disruptions, retrenchments, and maintaining community mental health and support networks during lockdowns.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Bucket list
The document outlines various dry sanitation options for residents of Cape Town facing severe water scarcity, specifically in preparation for 'Day Zero'. It explains the risks of using sea water in sewer systems, the health differences between urine and faeces, and provides detailed guidance on implementing dry compost toilets, pit latrines, commercial systems, and chemical toilets.
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Document type: Guide
Na ke ka moo re leng naha ea 'Lockdown' naha ka bophara?
The document explains that COVID-19 is a pandemic respiratory illness that originated in China and has spread to over 100 countries, including South Africa. It identifies high-risk groups, including the elderly, healthcare workers, and individuals with comorbidities such as HIV, TB, diabetes, and heart disease. The text outlines transmission via respiratory droplets and provides detailed hygiene protocols, including 20-second handwashing and the use of 'tippy taps' in areas without running water, to mitigate the spread during the national lockdown.
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Document type: Fact sheet
3-ycc-training-session-three-9f79ae63c938f990.pdf
The guide uses the case study of Rejoyce Kgabo Legodi, a community activist in Limpopo, South Africa, to demonstrate how to use diverse communication tools—such as solar-powered film screenings, workshops, and plant nurseries—to engage rural communities. It outlines a training structure that encourages participants to analyze the rural-urban divide and apply specific 'lenses' (wealth, gender, language, and age) to ensure a variety of voices are included in climate action and the just transition debate.
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Document type: Guide
3_annexure_3_monitoring_partnering_with_geoss-cf426a603e9f4912.pdf
The document describes the selection of four new groundwater monitoring areas—Brackenfell, Constantia/Bergvliet, Noordhoek, and Scarborough/Kommetjie—to support the City of Cape Town's water diversification efforts. Selection was based on borehole density, drilling activity during the 'Day Zero' period, equipment accessibility, and potential points of concern. These sites supplement existing monitoring in Newlands and Epping Industria to manage risks associated with unregulated groundwater abstraction under a changing climate.
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Document type: Report
Thematic analysis results for the WWF citizen science groundwater project in Cape Town
The report analyses survey data from 74 respondents in Cape Town regarding their use of boreholes and views on groundwater management. Key findings indicate that while many citizens use or consider boreholes to reduce reliance on municipal water and mitigate drought risks, there is strong support for regulating groundwater to prevent over-abstraction. The document also identifies a significant gap in the availability of local groundwater quality data and recommends the creation of a public information dashboard, preferably via a web page, to provide data on water quality, abstraction amounts, and borehole registration.
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Document type: Report
WWF Groundwater platform: Usability Testing Report – iComms
The usability testing of the WWF groundwater dashboard revealed that while users value the tool's data, the interface is often overwhelming and difficult to navigate for non-experts. Key issues include inconsistent fonts, a lack of clear purpose on the landing page, confusing map layers, and an excessive amount of text. Recommendations include creating separate user profiles for experts and non-experts, implementing color-coded severity indicators for groundwater levels, and adding tutorials to guide new users.
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Document type: Report
7_annexure_7_partnership_setup_table_mountain_water_source_partnership-20d01149e375e9f3.pdf
The report outlines the establishment of the Table Mountain Water Source Partnership, a multi-stakeholder initiative aimed at sustainable groundwater governance. Initiated by WWF South Africa with funding from AB InBev and the Royal Danish Embassy, the partnership evolved from a project-led facilitation to a self-governing body. Key findings emphasize the importance of neutral facilitation, the challenge of securing top-management buy-in, and the necessity of separating project implementation from long-term partnership governance.
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Document type: Report
9_annexure_9_appendix_a_wwf_uptake-5680df18a3bf6fb4.pdf
The document outlines WWF South Africa's strategy to address the historical over-emphasis on surface water by integrating groundwater management into its freshwater initiatives. It assesses current groundwater activities across several Strategic Water Source Areas, identifies gaps in institutional knowledge and governance, and proposes a roadmap for future action. This includes conducting baseline studies, enhancing stakeholder engagement with commercial farmers and corporate partners, and defining WWF's potential roles as a secretariat, implementer, or convener within water partnerships.
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Document type: Report
9_annexure_9_appendix_b_communication_list_of_publications-982c80b98309f31b.pdf
The document lists various communication outputs from 2020 to 2022, including news articles, social media campaigns, and educational resources focused on groundwater and water security in Cape Town, South Africa.
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Document type: Fact sheet