Geography

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Open Access
An analysis of attitudes towards recycling: Westdene, Bloemfontein
(University of the Free State, 2012-05) Marchand, Ashleigh Katherine; Kruger, E.
English: South Africa, like any developing country, has a high level of waste generation and limited resources for disposal. This is where a definite problem arises - a large amount of waste is left discarded and unmanaged. Recycling plays an important role in the preservation of the environment. This may be one of the most basic fundamental building blocks of environmental protection. It may not appear to be an impressive process but if performed properly with sufficient management, recycling can be the most efficient form of aiding the environment in the long term. The government, alone, does not and should not have the sole obligation in safeguarding our country against pollution and waste management. The private and public sectors have a common responsibility towards the environment. To initiate any waste management development programme, agreements between the various sectors must be drafted. Just as important to what is mentioned above is the co-operation between all national and local authorities. Certain international countries' lack of legislation and policies concerning waste management have resulted in an independent, informal economy being created, which means that an innovative economic sector has been developed. The purpose of this study is to reveal the current and future recycling behaviour of residential and commercial recipients in Westdene, Bloemfontein. Secondly, the study aims to critically review the current integrated waste management plans and policies that exist. Thirdly, a model is developed to illustrate recycling behaviour and attitude. Results gathered from the analysis reveal that all groups and demographics have similar ideas, covering all questions and variations of questions. All recipients are generally very pro-recycling, but only if the municipality contributes by initiating the required programmes/techniques to be used and facilities. Recipients are all in agreement that more information is needed to effectively succeed in implementing recycling in Westdene, Bloemfontein.
Open Access
Aspekte rakende die ruimtelike ekologie van die rooijakkals (Canis mesomelas) as probleemdier in die Suid-Vrystaat
(University of the Free State, 2010) Deacon, Francois; Barker, C. H.
English: According to the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation, damage-causing predators annually catch small stock to a value of approximately R1,1 billion in South Africa. On most of the small stock farms in the Southern Free State, black-backed jackals, Canis mesomelas, are shot on sight and actively hunted to provide a safe environment for domesticated animals. The veld and habitats previously occupied by natural prey for these carnivores are now used for commercial farming practices. Carnivores are conserved in established formal protection and conservation areas within the ecosystem to lessen their contact with small stock. In South Africa the black-backed jackal successfully adapts to this farming environment with visible adaptation patterns. These behavioural patterns are influenced by the circumstances of the animal and variables within its environment. In the study area these fixed patterns of the black-backed jackal presumably annually repeat itself. This study researched these behavioural patterns of the jackal. For the first time, geographic information systems (GIS) are used in the research of the black-backed jackal. Since 2006, black-backed jackal regional data (of all jackals killed during hunting operations) was collected in a high depredation area in the Southern Free State. Data points collected from 1927 to 2009 were accordingly entered on electronic charts in ArcView. The total number of data points were obtained from 433 black-backed jackals killed, with the localities of 344 charted. The data is grouped into four sets: the first set, collected over 26 years, 1927 to 1953, consisted of 15 black-backed jackals; the second set, collected over 5 years, 1993 to 1997, consisted of 124 black-backed jackals; the third set, collected from 1999 to 2008, 10 years, consisted of 210 black-backed jackals; and the fourth set, from 2006 to 2009, four years, had a total of 84 black-backed jackals. Therefore, the number of black-backed jackals killed significantly increased, from 15 killed the first 26 years, to 418 over the last 16 years, within the same specific area. The increase in numbers of black-backed jackals removed from the area is used as indication of the increase in damage over the years in the study area. The average mass of 68 males, killed between 1993 and 1997, was 7.15kg and 63 females, 6.72kg. According to the 35 farmers in this specific area of the Southern Free State, the jackal problem is at present more under control than 30 years ago, which also applies to some other parts of the Southern Free State and South Africa. The reason for this can be ascribed to a better understanding of the animals and planning of hunting expeditions. In the late 1980’s, the average loss per farmer was ± 200 sheep per annum. At present, about 40 sheep on average are lost per farmer. The aim of this study is to further alleviate the damage-causing problem in the study area by making accurate predictions and planning to decrease losses. In the study area, peak losses are noted annually from August to October and March to May. The black-backed jackals mainly follow certain fixed movement patterns in the study area and breeding pairs seemingly react to the same stimuli from their direct environment. The same dens are repeatedly used and there is a clear relationship between the location of the dens and human activities. When a breeding pair is removed from an area, a new breeding pair will soon establish there. The processing of historic data leads to predictions on where the black-backed jackals will establish, where they will breed and where they will probably cause damage. It also predicts where they can probably be caught. This study shows a strong correlation between the physical nature of the environment and the black-backed jackals.
Open Access
Assessing the effects of grazing on vegetation cover and associated socio-economic livelihoods in the Clarens Nature Reserve in the Free State, South Africa
(University of the Free State, 2018) Sekhele, Ntebohiseng Mpho; Okello, T. W.; Adelabu, S. A.
The presence of the Clarens nature reserve at the foothill of the mountainous Maluti is one of the treasured natural ecology of the Free State Province. A primary challenge to the ecological integrity of this small reserve is the nearby location of Kgubetswana Township, which boasts an increasing number of livestock owners. Hence, this study aims to assess the vegetation cover and socio-economic conditions associated with livestock grazing in the Clarens nature reserve. The objectives were to; i) identify vegetation cover; ii) assess the community' perception of environmental effects associated with livestock grazing at the Clarens nature reserve; iii) and assess the socio-economic conditions associated with livestock grazing at the Clarens nature reserve. Maximum likelihood classification and NDVI techniques were applied to remotely sensed images from the Landsat 5 TM, Landsat 7 ETM+ and Landsat 8 OLI sensors to map vegetation cover for the Autumn season of the years 2004, 2008 and 2016. A questionnaire survey was conducted to capture the perceptions of livestock owners and the reserve' management committee. Firstly, over 50% increase of unpalatable vegetation was detected in the vegetation cover of the Clarens reserve. Secondly, qualitative data reveal that 71 % of livestock farmers attribute land degradation to rainfall variability, while the management maintain that livestock overgrazing is the source of negative environmental degradation in the reserve. Change in the vegetation cover has not demonstrated any noticeable effects on the socio-economic conditions of the community. Hence, major dissimilarities in the perceptions of both stakeholders, which are influenced by the sense of responsibility of the two parties towards the reserve. The knowledge and understanding of livestock grazing in a protected area developed in thfs study could be used as a case study to establish grazing management strategies that could sensitize livestock owners to actively participate in the daily maintenance and managing of the reserve for sustainable use of natural resources. And, to forge good working relationships between the management of protected areas and the surrounding communities.
Open Access
An assessment of a technique to derive stream longitudinal profiles: a GIS approach
(University of the Free State, 2012-05) Moolman, Juanita; Barker, C. H.
English: The South African Water Act (Act 36 of 1998) (NWA, 1998) requires the calculation of the amount of water required for ecological sustainability in aquatic systems. Part of this process is the classification of slopes according to geomorphological class, which in turn requires, inter alia, the derivation of river longitudinal profiles from which to calculate these slopes. This has prompted the need to develop a method for obtaining these slopes that is fast and repeatable, and can be applied at both a national as well as sub-catchment level. Input data sets are required that are consistently available at a national as well as a sub-catchment level. This study will assess the results of using a semi-automated GIS procedure to derive longitudinal river profiles and slopes, based on nationally available data sets, in a test catchment. In recent years the use of Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) is replacing contour lines on topographic map sheets as the source of elevation inputs required to construct longitudinal profiles. The main question put forward is: can river longitudinal profiles and slopes generated from a DEM and based on 1:500 000 mapped river lines adjusted to within 50m of 1:50 000 mapped river lines, be used as effectively as river longitudinal profiles extracted from 1:50 000 mapped contours and based on 1:50 000 mapped rivers lines? Primary catchment X, situated in eastern South Africa, is used as the test area for this study. River channels in this catchment represent a range of slopes, from steep mountains streams to flat lowland rivers. The assessment is undertaken on 109 rivers identified at 1:500 000 scale in primary catchment X. These river lines are based on those originally scanned and vectorised from 1:500 000 topographic map sheets. These lines are available at a national level, have been connected to form a continuous network and horizontally adjusted to improve locational accuracy to within 50m of the river lines on 1:50 000 topographic map sheets (DWAF, 2003; DWAF, 2006). Profile elevation values extracted from three medium to low resolution Digital Elevation Models are examined in this study. This study compares slopes based on the elevation values extracted from DEMs according to adjusted 1:500 000 river lines, to those extracted from contour lines on 1:50 000 topographic map sheets according to 1:50 000 scanned river lines. These input data sets and any limitations associated with them are discussed. A semi-automated method used to extract and compile the elevation and distance values required to construct longitudinal profiles and the statistical tests and procedures used to compare elevation and slope values, are also described. Comparisons are formed around two reference scenarios. In the first elevations are extracted at the intersections of river lines with 1:50 000 scanned contour lines. The second reference scenario uses these same derived longitudinal profiles, but divided into five sets of equal horizontal intervals: 100m, 200m, 300m, 400m and 500m. Finally, the conclusions that can be drawn form these results, together with any recommendations for either improving or even replacing the data sets and methods described in this study, are presented. It is found that, that when comparing slopes derived from 1:50 000 contour line elevations to those based on DEM elevations, steep slopes tend to be more underestimated by the DEM than flatter slopes. More than 90% of profiles based on contour intervals and more than 90% of slopes derived at 500m horizontal distance intervals show no significant difference between slopes. It is finally suggested that the adjusted 1:500 000 river lines available from DWA (DWAF, 2003; DWAF 2006) combined with elevations from medium to low resolution DEMs can be used as a substitute for 1:50 000 river line and contour linebased profiles. It is also suggested that the automated GIS procedure used to extract and combine these values can be applied in other areas where the 1:500 000 river lines and medium to low resolution DEMs are available.
Open Access
Die bevolkingsverbreiding en rassepatrone in die O.V.S.
(University of the Free State, 1978-12) Van der Walt, Josef Kornelis; Nel, D. E.
Afrikaans: Sedert die eerste seisoentrekke van veeboere na die Vrystaat, is die ontwikkeling van die Vrystaat nou saamgesnoer met die groei van die Blanke- en Bantoebevolkings. Aanvanklik was die bevolkingsvestiging in die suidelike en westelike dele van die O.V.S. Hierdie patroon van vestiging het geleidelik verander; in die beginjare in korrelasie met die veranderinge in die boerderypatroon. Lateraan egter onder invloed van mynbou- en industriële ontwikkeling. In hierdie studie is al die korrelatiewe faktore wat 'n invloed op die mens-landverhouding uitgeoefen het, ondersoek en bespreek. Die huidige bevolkingsverbreiding en die rassepatrone in die O.V.S. toon noue verband met ekonomiese bedrywighede in dié streek. Die bevolkingsverbreiding is dus eers onder drie ekonomiese sektore, nl. die landbou-, mynbou- en industriebevolking bestudeer. Daar is ook gevind dat verstedeliking by die Blankebevolking baie ver gevorder het; by die Kleurlinge in 'n geringer mate en by die Bantoe baie min. Dit het tot gevolg dat die Blankebevolkingsgetalle in die landelike dele baie laag en die Bantoebevolkingsgetalle besonder hoog is. In die saaistreke van die O.V.S. is die Blank-Bantoeratio gemiddeld 5,5 Blankes per 100 Bantoes. In die gemengde boerderystreke is dit 9 en in die veeboerderystreke is die graad van "witheid" die hoogste, nl. 11 Blankes per 100 Bantoes. Die Blank-Kleurlingratio is slegs in die suidelike en suidwestelike dele van die O.V.S. van toepassing. In slegs drie van die distrikte in dié gebied is die Kleurlinge meer as die Blankes met 'n ratio van gemiddeld 85. In die res is die Blankes meer met ratios wat wissel van 60 tot 90. Daar is gevind dat dele met hoë landelike bevolkingsdigthede almal in die Noordwes-Vrystaat geleë is. Bevolkingsdigthede van tot 17.5 persone per km2 word hier aangetref hoofsaaklik as gevolg van die intensiewe saaiboerdery wat toegepas word. Dit is algemeen bekend dat sulke streke altyd relatiewe hoë bevolkingsgetalle het omdat plase kleiner is en daar baie arbeid benodig word en meer intensief bewerk word. Dit betken weer 'n betreklike groot arbeidsmag. Saaiery op so 'n skaal word moontlik gemaak deur die besondere eienskappe van die grond in hierdie streke. In die Noord- en Oos-O.V.S. is die bevolkingsdigtheid ook relatief hoog, tussen 11,5 en 17,5/km2. In dié dele is dit veral die hoër neerslae wat saaiboerdery bevorder en saaiboerdery gee weer aanleiding tot hoër bevolkingsdigthede. Die sentrale dele van die O.V.S. se bevolkingsdigtheid is tussen 5,5 tot 11,5/km2. Reënval in hierdie dele is laer en gemengde boerdery word toegepas. Om 'n afdoende ekonomiese plaaseenheid te wees, moet plase in hierdie streek dus groter wees. Gepaard met die feit dat Blanke boere verder uitmekaar woon, word ook minder arbeiders benodig en dit lei tot die lae bevolkingsdigtheid. Die dele met die laagste bevolkingsdigthede lê in die suidelike en suidwestelike dele van die O.V.S. waar digthede weer laer as 5,5/km2 beloop. Die lae en wisselvallige reënval en die swak gronde het tot gevolg dat slegs skaapboerdery toegepas kan word. Plase is dus baie groter en bowendien word min arbeid vir dië soort boerdery benodig. Daar is verder ook 'n isaritmiese kaart saamgestel waarop die huidige bevolking in digtheidstreke aangetoon word.
Open Access
Bewoningsbevrediging in die blanke woonhuissektor binne die munisipaliteit van Bloemfontein: 'n studie van proses, patroon en strategie
(University of the Free State, 1988-09) Lazenby, Jacobus Abraham Adriaan; Senekal, W. F. S.; Bester, C. L.
Afrikaans: Die primêre doelstelling met hierdie studie behels die interpretering en geïntegreerde hiêrargiese sone-ordening van sekere gekose wooneenheid- en woonbuurtdimensies waaroor huisbewoners bepaalde vlakke van tevredenheid voorhou. 'n Sekondêre doelstelling omvat die soeke na 'n verwantskap tussen die tevredenheidsvlakke van huisbewoners en bepaalde demografiese sowel as sosio-ekonomiese faktore. Hierdie doelstellings is deurlopend in gedagte gehou en is veral deur middel van hipotese-verifiêring aangespreek. In hoofstuk I is verskeie gepgrafiese benaderings behandel waarna die humanitêr-georiênteerde gedragsbenadering, wat hierdie navorsing sterk aanspreek, as geografiese navorsingsbenadering vir hierdie studie aanvaar is. Konseptualisering van bewoningsbevrediging en die verwantskap daarvan met Omgewingsielkunde is onderskeidelik in hoofstukke 2 en 3 behandel. In hoofstuk 4 is houdings as fundamentele begrip in die metodologie van hierdie navorsing verkonseptualiseer. Nadat die na vorsLnq apro's edu re in hoofstuk 5 behandel is, is algemene beskrywende statistieke van Bloemfontein as navorsingsterrein in hoofstuk 6 verskaf, aangesien hierdie data as beïnvloedend by bewoningsbevrediging as proses beskou is. Die gestelde hipoteses is in hoofstukke 7 tot 9 geverifieer. Die belangrikste bevindinge is soos volg: - Woonhuisbewoners is oor die algemeen positief teenoor hulle gevolglik residensiêle leefruimte en 'n redelike mate ervaar bewoningsbevrediging. - Daar bestaan 'n noue verwantskap tussen fisiese voorkoms, sosiale interaksie, woonbuurtdienste, veiligheid, woonhuis en die erf as komponente van bewoningsbevrediging. - Bewoningsbevrediging toon 'n verband met bepaalde huishoudingskenmerke. Gunstige eienskappe van die huishouding sal 'n groter mate van bewoningsbevredigingin die hand werk. Dit is veral waar wat hoër sosio-ekonomiese status, hoë oudersomstadium, 'n langer residensietydperk by 'n bepaalde adres en eienaarstatus betre. - Daar is verder daarin geslaag om 'n geïntegreerdechorologiese ordegroepering met betrekking tot die bepaalde bewoningsbevredigingskomponente te maak. - Houdingsanalise het ook 'n handige metode geblyk in die bepaling van omgewingsvoorkeure. - In ooreeneenstemming met 'n geverifieerde hipotese is dit ook waar dat huishoudings intrastedelik sal verskuif weens moontlike bewoningsontevredenheid. Die navorsing is afgesluit met die gevolgtrekkings in hoofstuk 11, nadat strategieformulering in hoofstuk 10 aandag geniet het. Dit behels 'n aantal spes ifieke strategieê wat in die vorm van verbeteringsprioriteite geformuleer is. Die strategieê en aanbevelings word aan bepaalde instansies/persone gerig ten einde die tevredenheidsvlak van woonhuisbewoners met hulle behuisings en residensiêle-omgewingsopset te verhoog.
Open Access
Burned area mapping over the Southern Cape forestry region, South Africa using sentinel data within GEE cloud platform
(MDPI, 2021) Xulu, Sifiso; Mbatha, Nkanyiso; Peerbhay, Kabir
Planted forests in South Africa have been affected by an increasing number of economically damaging fires over the past four decades. They constitute a major threat to the forestry industry and account for over 80% of the country’s commercial timber losses. Forest fires are more frequent and severe during the drier drought conditions that are typical in South Africa. For proper forest management, accurate detection and mapping of burned areas are required, yet the exercise is difficult to perform in the field because of time and expense. Now that ready-to-use satellite data are freely accessible in the cloud-based Google Earth Engine (GEE), in this study, we exploit the Sentinel-2-derived differenced normalized burned ratio (dNBR) to characterize burn severity areas, and also track carbon monoxide (CO) plumes using Sentinel-5 following a wildfire that broke over the southeastern coast of the Western Cape province in late October 2018. The results showed that 37.4% of the area was severely burned, and much of it occurred in forested land in the studied area. This was followed by 24.7% of the area that was burned at a moderate-high level. About 15.9% had moderate-low burned severity, whereas 21.9% was slightly burned. Random forests classifier was adopted to separate burned class from unburned and achieved an overall accuracy of over 97%. The most important variables in the classification included texture, NBR, and the NIR bands. The CO signal sharply increased during fire outbreaks and marked the intensity of black carbon over the affected area. Our study contributes to the understanding of forest fire in the dynamics over the Southern Cape forestry landscape. Furthermore, it also demonstrates the usefulness of Sentinel-5 for monitoring CO. Taken together, the Sentinel satellites and GEE offer an effective tool for mapping fires, even in data-poor countries.
Open Access
Characterisation of evapotranspiration in the Orange River Basin of South Africa-Lesotho with climate and MODIS data
(MDPI, 2023) Mahasa, Pululu S.; Xulu, Sifiso; Mbatha, Nkanyiso
Evapotranspiration (ET) is crucial to the management of water supplies and the functioning of numerous terrestrial ecosystems. To understand and propose planning strategies for water-resource and crop management, it is critical to examine the geo-temporal patterns of ET in drought-prone areas such as the Upper Orange River Basin (UORB) in South Africa. While information on ET changes is computed from directly observed parameters, capturing it through remote sensing is inexpensive, consistent, and feasible at different space–time scales. Here, we employed the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)-derived spectral indices within Google Earth Engine (GEE) to analyze and characterize patterns of ET over the UORB from 2003 to 2021, in association with various climatic parameters. Our results show spatially consistent ET patterns with the Vegetation Condition Index (VCI), with lower values in the west, increasing toward the eastern section of the basin, over the Lesotho highlands. We noted that the UORB faced significant variability in ET and VCI during pronounced drought episodes. The random forests (RF) model identified precipitation, temperature, Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI)-6, Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI), and VCI as variables of high importance for ET variability, while the wavelet analysis confirmed the coherence connectivity between these variables with periodicities ranging from eight to 32 months, suggesting a strong causal influence on ET, except for PDSI, that showed an erratic relationship. Based on the sequential Mann–Kendall test, we concluded that evapotranspiration has exhibited a statistically downward trend since 2011, which was particularly pronounced during the dry periods in 2015–2016, 2019, and 2021. Our study also confirmed the high capacity of the GEE and MODIS-derived indices in mapping consistent geo-temporal ET patterns.
Open Access
The climate change-urban planning nexus in a mountain environment: the case of the Eastern Free State Region of South Africa
(University of the Free State, 2023) Shezi, Ntombizodumo; Mukwada, Geofrey; Adagbasa, Efosa G.
Thabo Mofutsanyana District is a rugged and mountainous area located in the eastern part of the Free State Province, South Africa. The area owes its ruggedness to the Drakensberg and Maloti Mountains. Mountain areas have been reported to be more sensitive and vulnerable to climate change, making it necessary to assess climate change in such areas and the surrounding urban areas. This study aimed to identify the negative impacts of climate change in the Thabo Mofutsanyana District and assess how urban planners responded to these impacts. This study used mixed-research methods, including climate data collected from the Koninklijk Nederlands Meteorologisch Instituut (KNMI) Climate Earth Explorer analysed using Microsoft Excel. It used social data from formal interviews with local urban planners and survey questionnaires distributed to urban residents. The social data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Microsoft Excel. Lastly, the study used spatial data from Google Earth Explorer, and PlanetScope analysed using ArcGIS (ArcMap 10.7.1). The results revealed a statistically significant increase in monthly mean temperature (from 1990 to 2020) experienced in Thabo Mofutsanyana District towns, while the decrease in annual total precipitation (from 1990 to 2020) was not statistically significant. This implies that the increase in temperature results from climate change, while the decrease in precipitation is only climate variability. The results further revealed that the urban planners’ strategies implemented to alleviate the impact of climate change were ineffective due to the magnitude of the effects of climate change, especially flooding during heavy rains and extreme temperatures. Furthermore, it was discovered that the exclusion of climate change during urban planning led to a decline in the protection of Green and Blue Urban Ecological Infrastructure (UEI). The increasing Grey UEI is not sustainable as the blocking of drainage systems and the limited porosity of roads do not reduce the effects of climate change, such as flooding. If not effectively maintained, the Green and Blue UEI will continue to decrease in Thabo Mofutsanyana District, affecting the area’s sustainability. The study concluded that sustainable urban planning could mitigate the effects of climate change in cities and small towns, and help communities adapt to these effects effectively. Incorporating climate change during urban planning is necessary.
Open Access
A comparative analysis of the treatment of biodiversity impacts in mining Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) before and after 2013: experiences from the Mpumalanga province, South Africa
(University of the Free State, 2019-07) Pohlo, Reanetsie T.; Kruger, Eldalize
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is one of the environmental management tools employed by the relevant authorities to achieve the principles of sustainable development. Biodiversity Impact Assessment (BIA) studies are undertaken as part of the EIA process to ensure that the proposed development considers the potential impacts on the biodiversity. Studies on the state of South Africa’s biodiversity have revealed that biodiversity and ecosystems in the country are under serious threat; and mining is one of the major threats to the biodiversity. In 2013, the Mining and Biodiversity Guideline (DEA et al., 2013) was published, with the aim of improving the integration of biodiversity into the mining industry. This research analyses the treatment of biodiversity impacts in mining EIAs before and after the publication of this guideline. In order to achieve the aim of this research, a customised mining BIA report-review package was developed; and it was employed to review 46 mining BIA reports produced before and after 2013. Secondary data – by means of questionnaires were also employed to get an in-depth understanding of the treatment of biodiversity impacts in mining EIAs. The results of the study revealed that most BIAs failed to consider biodiversity issues properly in their assessments. For instance, the BIAs conducted before, and after 2013 received an overall satisfactory score of 43% and 57%, respectively. Areas of weakness include project description, sensitivity mapping, stakeholder consultation, consideration of alternatives, as well as monitoring. Faithful representation of the biodiversity specialist input to the main mining EIA report showed an improvement after 2013, by receiving an overall satisfactory score of 78%, compared to the 52% received before 2013. The results also revealed that the majority of the BIA reports complied with the minimum requirements for specialist studies stipulated by the National Environmental Management Act (Act No.107 0f 1998). The analysis of the questionnaires revealed several inadequacies and areas of weakness regarding the treatment of biodiversity impacts. These include poor consideration of indirect and cumulative impacts, failure to incorporate environmental thresholds, and the ecosystem approach – when assessing biodiversity impacts. A series of recommendations for improving the treatment of biodiversity impacts in mining EIAs was subsequently formulated. The development and implementation of sensitivity mapping guidelines, capacity building for biodiversity specialists and Environmental Assessment Practitioners (EAPs), and the application of the mitigation hierarchy, among others, is proposed to improve the consideration of biodiversity impacts in mining EIAs.
Open Access
A comparative study of landslides and geohazard mitigation in Northern and Central Malawi
(University of the Free State, 2007-11) Msilimba, Golden Gadinala Ashan Chizimba; Holmes, Peter J.
English: In 2003, a number of landslides occurred in the Ntchenachena and the Chiweta Areas of the Rumphi District in Northern Malawi, and in the Livilivi/Mvai Catchments of Ntcheu District in Central Malawi. The landslide events caused significant damage to crops, farmland, livestock and infrastructure. Worse still, they caused the death of four people. The high density of landslides occurrences suggested instability of the slopes of these areas. In light of these landslides, this study set out to assess the slope stability status of the areas. The study addressed landslide mapping and classification of observed events; assessment of the causes and contributing factors; assessment of the socio-economic and environmental impacts of the events; exploration of traditional knowledge, beliefs and peoples perceptions surrounding landslides; determination of the coping strategies; and development of mitigations to landslides as geo-hazards. This study involved a landslide inventory of all observed This study involved a landslide inventory of all observed events. The physical characteristics of the terrain influencing slope instability were measured. The characteristics recorded included slope length, angles, aspect and altitude, and channel dimensions. Landslides were classified based on the type of movement, degree of stabilisation, and age, and materials involved in the movement. Soil samples were collected, using core and clod sampling methods and were tested for plastic limit, liquid limit, plasticity index, bulk density, hydraulic conductivity, aggregate stability, and particle sizes. Structural rock weaknesses were also measured. Vegetation data was collected, using the quadrant method and was analysed for average diameters at stump and breast height, canopy cover, and height. Questionnaires/surveys were used to assess local knowledge and perceptions towards landslides. A SPSS statistical package was used to analyse both social and physical data. It was found that 131 landslides had occurred of which 98 were in the Rumphi District, Northern Malawi and 33 occurred in the Ntcheu District, Central Malawi. The variations were observed to be due to the degree of disturbance of the physical environment. The Ntchenachena Area, with the highest density (88), was under cultivation and the afro-montane vegetation had been completely destroyed. The deepest channels were observed in the Ntchenachena Area, partly because of the deep chemical weathering of the basement. In contrast, the rest of the areas had thin soils. Slope aspect and type were found to be of little significance in the occurrence and spatial distribution of the events. The analysis of data suggested that the events were caused by liquefaction of sand and silt fractions due to high and prolonged precipitation. The evidence from the Chiweta and the Mvai Areas suggests that high cleft water pressure between rock and soil masses might have caused some failures. However, destruction of vegetation, cultivation on marginal lands, high slope angle, weathering of the basement, and slope cutting contributed to the instability. The study also noted that the Ntchenachena, the Mvai and the Livilivi Areas largely require soft solutions to the landslide problem. These include afforestation, proper siting of houses, and restricting settlement activities in danger-prone areas. Income generating activities to reduce poverty, community participation in natural resources management and public awareness and outreach programmes are highly recommended. The Chiweta Area requires urgent major engineering works such as construction of embankments, cable nets, wire meshes, improving drainage and plugging. Stabilisation and rehabilitation of river banks is also recommended to minimize bank collapse and flooding. Integration of traditional knowledge into the existing scientific body knowledge is critical to a better understanding of the mechanisms that generate landslides Further work needs to be carried out in areas of willingness to relocate to safer ground; change in production system; geological analysis of the Chiweta beds; hydro-geological assessment of the areas; development of landslides predictive models for Malawi; and the development of a landslide early warning system.
Open Access
A comparative study of the quality and outcomes of environmental impact assessment reports from the Free State and Northern Cape provinces
(University of the Free State, 2008-05) Freemantle, Sophia Johanna; Kruger, E.
English: An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) determines the economic, social and environmental impacts of proposed developments. Environmental Impact Assessment reports are complied by independent consultants in order to provide the authorities with information on the anticipated impacts on the environment caused by a proposed activity or development. The authorities therefore base their decision largely on the EIA document and trust that the information about forecasted impacts are to a large extent accurate. Authorities also trust that the mitigation measures proposed in the Record of Decisions (RODs) and Environmental Management Plans (EMP`s), in order to minimize impacts on the environment, are implemented during the construction and operational phases of a project. Post-authorization activities such as monitoring and auditing are the only feedback mechanisms to provide authorities with information on the extent to which predicted impacts materialised and whether mitigation measures were implemented. Post authorization activities, especially auditing is to a large extend neglected because it was not mandatory in South Africa under the Environmental Impact Assessment regulations promulgated on September 1997 in terms of Environment Conservation Act 107 of 1989. Therefore the accuracy of predicted impacts and the implementation rate of mitigation measures in South Africa are to a large extent unknown. The aim of the study is to assess the accuracy of predicted impacts and the implementation rate of mitigation measures of activities that received authorization from the Departments of Environmental Affairs in the Free State and Northern Cape provinces, in South Africa. The objective of the study is to determine if any improvements are necessary to EIA reports, to establish whether authorities base their decisions on correct information. The adequacy or success of proposed mitigation measures will also aid decision makers in suggesting preventative measures. The research problem posed in this study was two-fold. First the question relating to the accuracy of predicted impacts and implementation of mitigation measures in the Free State and Northern Cape had to be answered. This was done through a method called impact-backwards auditing. Secondly the question whether the two provinces had similar outcomes in terms of predicted impact accuracy and implementation of mitigation measures, had to be assessed. The comparison between the two provinces was conducted through a series of Pearson chi-square tests on contingency tables to assess if statistically significant differences occurred in the outcome of predicted impacts and mitigation measures between the Free State and Northern Cape provinces. This study concluded that no statistically significant differences occurred between the two provinces in relation to the outcome of predicted impacts and mitigation measures. Predicted impacts were to a large extent accurately predicted and the majority of mitigation measures were to a large extent implemented successfully to prevent or minimize an impact.
Open Access
Conditions characterizing the sustainability of smallholder irrigation schemes: the case of Bikita District Zimbabwe
(University of the Free State (Qwaqwa Campus), 2016-05) Chazovachii, Bernard; Mukwada, G.
This thesis examines conditions characterizing viability and sustainability of smallholder irrigation agriculture based on four smallholder irrigation schemes in Bikita District, Masvingo Province of Zimbabwe, namely Chinyamatumwa, Mashoko, Rozva and Shereni. Climate change and variability has necessitated investment in smallholder irrigation agriculture, a sector that has been bypassed by the green revolution, leaving the resource-poor and small landholders food insecure. Smallholder irrigation schemes in Zimbabwe are unsustainable beyond external assistance. These outcomes leave plot holders worse off, due to their failure to achieve viability and sustainability. Application of Irrigation Management Transfer at country and irrigation scheme levels has lacked consideration of local conditions and specific characteristics of local scheme management. The Zimbabwean economic downturn that started in 1999 worsened the condition due to the withdrawal of government and donor support from irrigation development. This left smallholder irrigation schemes exposed to organisational and management problems, creating differences and confusion amongst institutions and irrigation project supervisors, regarding their duties and responsibilities. Hitherto, conditions characterizing the viability and sustainability of smallholder irrigation agriculture have received no direct research attention nor has the nexus of the two phenomena been theorized in Zimbabwe. This study is the first study to apply the Viability-Sustainability Model in the assessment of challenges facing smallholder irrigation agriculture in the country. The Sustainable Livelihood Approach augmented by the Viability System Based Theory was employed in the assessment of the aforementioned four smallholder irrigation schemes. The methodology of the study was informed by both the positivist and constructivist paradigms. This mixed-methods research allowed the opportunity to compensate for inherent methodological weaknesses, capitalize on inherent method strengths and offset inevitable methodological biases. A sequential exploratory design was employed where collection and analysis of qualitative data was followed by a collection and analysis of quantitative data or vise-versa. Data-collection tools included questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussions, observations (using photographic equipment) and document analysis, all of which were used for triangulation purposes. Purposive sampling was used to select key informants who were interviewed while computer generated random number tables were used to select the irrigators who were included in the questionnaire survey and FGDs. SPSS, Version 16.0, was used to perform descriptive statistics, ANOVA, during quantitative data analysis. The thematic process of data-analysis (a model of content analysis), complemented by the constant comparative method, was used in qualitative analysis. In all the smallholder irrigation schemes, viability was considered to be a function of governance and social cohesion, financial management capability and technical and water resources management capability as well as a variety of capitals all of which are interconnected into a single system. However, social dissonance and poor financial management system were prevalent in all the schemes as compared to other factors. The study concludes that for smallholder irrigation schemes to develop as farming organizations, farmer empowerment is the order of the day. The study also concludes that farming organizations such as irrigation schemes are under the influence of both internal and external forces, which should be carefully managed in order to attain viability and sustainability. The ability of farmers to organize themselves or their operations depends on internal factors like competency of the IMC, WUA, systems in place, training, and financial systems. Similarly, the ability of the farmers to relate to external stakeholders such as donors, credit institutions, government policy, farmers’ cooperatives, markets and competitors is also critical for mapping the viability and sustainability of the schemes.
Open Access
The construction of a Geographic Information System (GIS) model for landfill site selection
(University of the Free State, 2007-11) Thoso, Makibinyane; Barker, C. H.
In the past decade, locating landfill site has been recognized as a significant planning problem and has subsequently received much attention from researchers in the planning sector. In particular, the siting of landfills is becoming more of an issue due to the prevalent “not in my backyard” (NIMBY) and “not in anyone’s backyard” (NIABY) concerns from the public. The purpose of this study, after identifying important criteria for siting landfills, was to develop a user-friendly landfill site selection model using a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) framework. Due to unavailability of electronic spatial data for Lesotho, Bloemfontein area was used as a test case. The model is tested in Bloemfontein with the intension to be applied in the city of Maseru as soon as the spatial data become available. The three main objectives were to develop GIS criteria for locating the landfill, identify possible sites that were suitable for this type of development and evaluate the effectiveness of these GIS methods used in the study. Production of constraint and factor maps took place. Afterwards, final suitability map was created using ArcGIS analysis tools. The optimum suitability map indicated that there were more optimal sites found within Bloemfontein city. The results discovered in Bloemfontein city using the GIS-based study revealed that although highly suitable areas were limited, a site was still able to be chosen under the predefined parameters. The site is not located on, or near, any environmental interest areas and is located a significant distance away from streams and urban areas, which minimizes social conflict and environmental impacts. The site is also located close enough (1-2km) to major road (N8) to Kimberley from Bloemfontein city and railroad, which ensures that economic costs of implementation are minimal. The selected region has a slope less than 12%, which are both an infrastructural advantage and a means of minimizing environmental impacts. Furthermore, the landfill is located in an area within 22 kilometres of the Bloemfontein study area. Since the site is located in a highly suitable area, environmental, social, and economic concerns have been met. Ultimately, the study proposes an acceptable landfill site for solid waste, taking Bloemfontein as the test study area. This research will contribute in developing Lesotho’s spatial database of environmental and social information to assist in the formulation of environmental policy. It is also expected that such municipal GIS when planned and implemented efficiently with sufficient public awareness and support would be instrumental in bringing reforms at the local and national level, realizing a major improvement without much capital investment.
Open Access
Critical perspectives on the (re)development of Westdene, Bloemfontein
(University of the Free State, 2006-01) Hoogendoorn, Gijsbertus; Visser, Gustav
English: The study focuses on the development of Westdene, Bloemfontein. Westdene is one of Bloemfontein’s oldest neighbourhoods and has undergone a range of changes since its establishment in 1903. Following a review of the development of Westdene over the past century, this investigation provides a critical reflection on the urban changes that have taken place in this neighbourhood, including the decentralisation of office and retail functions, the development of entertainment amenities, gentrification in parts of the neighbourhood, crime and fear of crime in the former CBD and the neighbourhood itself. Drawing on the findings of the investigation the study attempts to make a contribution towards our understanding of neighbourhood changes in post-apartheid cities. Moreover, the investigation challenges the commonly held notion that urban compaction and diversification of land-uses lead to integrated and efficient neighbourhoods, or city districts. On the contrary, the result of this study contradicts this perception, demonstrating that despite the multiple uses of Westdene as a location of employment, recreation and residence, it has developed into a highly fragmented urban space.
Open Access
A critical review of the quality of enviromental impact assessment reports in Lesotho
(University of the Free State, 2011-01) Talime, L. A.; Kruger, E.
Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is one of the tools used by relevant authorities all over the world in an attempt to ensure that the principles of sustainable development are achieved. Since the Environment Act (EA) No. 15 of 2001 was passed in the parliament many EIAs have been conducted in Lesotho. This Act has been replaced with the EA No. 10 of 2008. Though it was not until June 2009 that the environmental law was promulgated, government institutions and environmental practitioners have been operating within the provisions of this Act. The preparation of high quality EIA reports is one component of an effective translation of EIA policy into practice. The Lee and Colley review package (Lee et al 1999) was used to assess the quality of 15 EIA reports submitted to the National Environment Secretariat which is now referred to as the Department of Environment (DoE). The reports comprised of the project briefs (PBs) and the environmental impact statements (EISs). Interviews with the EIA consultants, stakeholders and concerned government officials have also been conducted to underpin the root cause of poor quality of EIA reports. The analysis reveals that several key areas of EIA do not receive sufficient attention. The inadequacies are particularly in areas relating description of the development, identification, evaluation and mitigation of key impacts, consideration of alternatives, and consultation and participation of the public. The government institutions also show less interest in environmental matters and as a result matters relating to environment are given less priority. This leaves the effectiveness of the EIA process to be highly questionable. The study offers suggestions that would improve the EIA process in the country.
Open Access
Dynamism of rural mountain livelihoods under a changing climate: the case of the Eastern Free State region of South Africa
(University of the Free State, 2023) Msimanga, Lokuthula; Mukwada, Geofrey
The research was conducted in the Thabo Mofutsanyane District of the Eastern Free State Region of South Africa. This region's complicated climate and topography have an impact on the environment and socioeconomic aspects of the local population. Consequently, climate change poses a significant threat to local mountain communities, directly affecting their livelihoods. As a result, local communities have developed adaptation strategies to safeguard their livelihoods. However, the success of these adaptation strategies has not been adequately analyzed in relation to climate change impacts in this region. For this reason, the study aimed at determining the most preferred adaptation strategies implemented by the local communities in Thabo Mofutsanyane District, and the extent to which these strategies could be considered effective in building resilient mountain communities. Gridded monthly maximum and minimum temperature, and average rainfall data from 1960 to 2019 were extracted from Climate Explorer. The Mann Kendall Test and Sen’s slope estimate were employed to identify the nature and magnitude of the trends and their significance. The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) was calculated for the January to March (JFM) and October to December (OND) subseasons and for the ONDJFM in R-Studio 1.1.1717 software. A questionnaire survey was carried out to determine the perceptions of local communities about climate trends and the impacts of climate change on rural livelihoods in the region. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences and Microsoft Excel 2016 were used to analyse the data. The results indicate a significant rise in the long-term yearly mean minimum and maximum temperatures by 0.0340C/annum and 0.0110C/annum, respectively. SPI data show severe droughts occurred during the JFM sub-season in 1973 (-1.21), 1983 (-1.755), 1992 (-1.55), and 2016 (-1.10). Extreme droughts occurred in 1990 (SPI= -1.91) during the JFM sub-season. The most severe droughts (SPI <-1.645) in the OND seasons were recorded in 1994, 1990 and 2019. The respondents reported that their lives and livelihoods have shifted due to changes in climate, leading to implications for the agricultural and socio-economic systems. The adverse environmental impacts induced by climate change reported by the communities include declining water quality and quantity (67 %), crop loss (48 %), reduced crop yields (33 %), animal diseases (38 %), and livestock mortality (68 %). Households also cited climate-related socio-economic impacts, such as higher prices, loss of farm and non-farm income, and increased labour as adverse effects of climate change. Local households adopted different livelihood strategies, including new water and soil management tactics, purchasing of livestock feeds, adoption of drought resistant livestock species, and socio-economic measures. Respondents determined the effectiveness of adaptation measures based on observations of improved crop production and yields because of implementing soil management tactics and use of drought/frost resistant seed varieties; improved livestock health as a result of providing livestock with water and purchasing supplementary feeds; and improved health as a result of proper water management strategies. The research concludes that determining the contextspecific adaptation techniques that these communities can apply will depend on the mountain communities’ perceptions of climate change impacts on their livelihoods. Therefore, combining scientific knowledge with data on community perceptions and local knowledge about climate change could enhance effectiveness of climate change adaptation strategies. The study recommends evaluating the adaption strategies local communities have implemented over time and suggesting alternative coping mechanisms that could be implemented in the region.
Open Access
The efficacy of small holder tobacco farmers on rural development in Zimbabwe
(University of the Free State (Qwaqwa Campus), 2017-06) Chitongo, Leonard; Mukwada, G.
The aim of this thesis is to assess the efficacy of smallholder tobacco farming as a tool for socio-economic transformation in rural Zimbabwe. The study was carried out in the Marondera District of Mashonaland East Province. This thesis was prompted by the need to establish the extent to which smallholder tobacco farming contributes to poverty reduction. The research was based on a comparative analysis of earlier resettlement areas that were set up between the 1980s and early 1990s, the recently established fast track resettlement areas that were established after 2000, and the communal areas. The novelty of this study partly lies in the analysis of the socio-economic contribution of tobacco farming using a dual theoretical framework combining the Sustainable Livelihood Framework and Entitlement Approach in a dynamic macroeconomic environment. The thesis assesses how the macroeconomic environment that has prevailed in Zimbabwe since 2000 has influenced production of tobacco as a livelihood option. Based on a mixed method research design encompassing observations, key informant interviews and focus group discussions, as well as a questionnaire survey, and qualitative and quantitative data were collected and analysed thematically in a manner that provides basis for co-validation. The quantitative data were analysed in SPSS V16.0 and MS Excel 2013 environments, where correlation and regression analyses were undertaken. Correlation analysis was used to determine the variables which were related to tobacco output in the three farming areas. The results from the study showed the different sources of tobacco funding and how the prevailing economic conditions affected investment into tobacco farming. Furthermore deforestation, erosion and pollution were identified as the major problems resulting from tobacco farming. The study concludes that tobacco farming has an enormous potential to reduce rural poverty. This is reflected in the increase of asset ownership and income among tobacco growing households in all farming areas. However, these improvements have taken place at the expense of the natural environment, whose capacity to provide key natural resources has been degraded. The study recommends an increase in provision of government funded extension services, capitalization, as well as energy supply and infrastructural development programmes in order to enhance sustainability.
Open Access
Estimation of greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture in the eastern Free State, South Africa
(University of the Free State, 2017-12) Malaka, Sewela Francinah; Mukwada, G.; Moeletsi, M. E.
The agriculture sector is responsible for global emissions and the emissions continue to grow rapidly. The food agriculture organization (FAO) reported emissions with 7.1 gigatonnes CO2eq per annum, representing 14.5 % of human-induced GHG emissions; the livestock sector plays an important role in climate change. Beef and cattle milk production account for the majority of emissions, respectively contributing 41 and 20 % of the sector’s emissions. While pig meat and poultry meat and eggs contribute respectively 9 % and 8 % to the sector’s emissions. Feed production and processing, and enteric fermentation from ruminants are the two main sources of emissions, representing 45 and 39 % of sector emissions, respectively. Manure storage and processing represent 10 % in 2013. Contribution of agriculture sector to South Africa’s total CO2eq emissions was 11.6 % in 1990, 9.3 % in 1994 and 4.9 % in 2000. The livestock category was the major contributor to the Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector, providing the average of 54.1 % to the total CH4 emissions in 2010. The contribution from livestock has declined by 11.8 % over the 2000 -2010 period. The department of environmental affairs (DEA) reported that, the total enteric CH4 emissions attained for the years (2000, 2004, and 2010) were 903.23 Gg, 1183.56 Gg and 1172.95 Gg. The contributions of dairy cattle to the total cattle emissions in 2004 was 14.3 % and 13.5 % in 2010. The overall objective of this research study was to estimate GHG emissions (CO2, CH4 and N2O) resulting from agricultural farms in Tshiame Ward in the eastern Free State region of South Africa for the years 2010 to 2014. The importance of this research was to assess GHG emissions in agricultural farms for purposes of developing mitigation options. The available data allowed Tier 2 method to calculate all the GHG emission factors (EFs) and emissions from cattle, sheep and cropland farming. However, Tier 1 method was used to estimate EFs and emissions from other livestock categories. Emissions were estimated from the agricultural sources including CH4 emissions from enteric fermentation, CH4 emissions from manure management, N2O emissions from manure management, non-CO2 emissions from biomass burning, Soil N2O emissions from managed soils, and emissions from fuel use. The results have shown relatively high CH4 EFs from enteric fermentation for mature female beef cattle (95- 109 kg/head/year) at all farms. The dairy mature females followed with 71-105 kg/head/animal, dairy mature bulls (63-96 kg/head/animal), beef mature bulls (53-89 kg/head/animal), beef heifers (37-52 kg/head/animal), dairy heifers (33-56 kg/head/animal), dairy calves (10-25 kg/head/animal), and beef calves (10-24 kg/head/year). Ewes recorded an enteric CH4 EF of about 7 kg CH4/head/year, heifers 0.86 kg CH4/head/year, rams with about 9 kg CH4/head/year and lambs were calculated to have an enteric CH4 EF of about 0.22 kg CH4/head/year. The manure CH4 EFs for MMSs varied per animal subcategories. Beef mature females had the highest average CH4 manure EFs ranging from 1.2 to 1.5 kg CH4/animal/year at all farms, followed by the dairy mature females with CH4 manure EFs ranging from 0.8 to 2.2 kg CH4/animal/year. The beef mature bulls had the CH4 manure EFs of 0.9 to 1.2 kg CH4/animal/year which was higher than the dairy mature bulls which ranged from 0.9 to 1 kg CH4/animal/year. The other animal subcategories had the manure CH4 EFs ranging from 0.1 to 1 kg CH4/animal/year by MMSs. In summary, manure CH4 EFs for beef category were higher than the dairy category at all animal subcategories. The livestock EFs in this study were higher than the EFs found in most studies and this might be due to the lower quality of the feeding situation used in the study area. However, the cropland EFs were consistent with those in literature for most of the studies. It was estimated that farm total emissions in the year 2010 ranged from (69220-580877 kg CO2eq), (70977-585732 kg CO2eq) in the 2011, (45338-676245 kg CO2eq) in 2012, (54731-485264 kg CO2eq) in 2013, and (36270-464119 kg CO2eq) in 2014 at all farms. CH4 enteric fermentation was the highest contributor to the total farm emissions at all farms by approximately 50% in all years, followed by CH4 and N2O from manure management respectively. GHG emissions from cropland farming were lower than the emissions produced during livestock farming. In this study, the mitigation options were analysed and evaluated, and as a result, six (6) mitigation options were regarded as the potential mitigation options for Tshiame farms. The six (6) potential mitigation options met the requirements of sustainability, environmental friendly as well as the profitability of farmers. Managing manure as solid storage had reduced the total emitted manure emissions by 21-75% in all years at all farms. Feeding manure to anaerobic digester had resulted in the reduction of manure emissions emitted by 9-24% at all farms. Manure left on pasture had reduced the manure emissions by 20-75%. However, the dry lot reduced the manure emissions by 20-74% in all years. Addition of supplements in feeding situations had reduced the emitted enteric emissions ranging from 81 to 92 percent.
Open Access
An evaluation of the spatial variability of sediment sources along the banks of the Modder River, Free State Province, South Africa
(University of the Free State, 2005-05) Tsokeli, Raboroko David; Barker, C. H.
The study focuses on the characteristics of the Modder River in the Free State. The Modder River plays an important role in supplying water for domestic, agricultural and industrial uses in the Bloemfontein, Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu areas. According to present (2001) estimates by the Centre of Environmental Management of the University of the Free State, the Modder River is exploited to its full capacity owing to the construction of dams. As the name of river suggests, the Modder River is said to have high sediment loads. In Afrikaans, modder means mud. The drainage pattern of the Modder River reveals well-developed dendritic drainage on the eastern part of the catchment and an endoreic drainage pattern on the western part. This study aims to evaluate the spatial variability of sediment sources along the main course of the Modder River as well as assess the possible role of fluvial geomorphology in river management. The study is based on the hypothesis that the high sediment load in the Modder River main course is caused more by riverbank processes than by the surface of the basin. Helicopter and fieldwork surveys were carried out in order to obtain the required materials (variables). The spatial variability of bank-forming material, vegetation cover, type and channel form were investigated in order to realise the aim of this study. The channel form of the Modder River indicates a decrease in sediment loads since the channel form shows some shrinkage immediately below the Krugersdrift Dam. The Modder River transports less and less sediments downstream as a result of a high number of constructed dams. Dams are barriers that create discontinuities in the channel system. Observations of the characteristics of the banks of the Modder River reveal that these banks are resistant to erosion owing to the luxuriant vegetation growth and low stream power because of the channel gradient. A question arises as to whether the Modder River really has such high sediment loads as its name suggests. Given the current state of the Modder River, high sediments are highly localised at certain sections of the stream. The transfer of sediments from one part of the river to another depends on the availability of sediment sources in space and time.