News
The CSIR’s Coastal Systems Environmental Analytical Laboratory plays a pivotal role in water safety by providing essential analytical services to various levels of government, and industrial sectors. During South Africa’s lockdown, maintaining these services became a priority for keeping up stringent hygiene practices. CSIR researchers have worked throughout the lockdown to assist authorities in the Western Cape to ensure that the water that is provided to residents remains safe for drinking and use.
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the CSIR Microbiology and Parasitology Laboratory has screened many water samples for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 and other infective viruses. Water samples were received from many of the country’s leading water utilities, as well as utilities from some neighbouring countries. Researchers have not detected any infective viruses in any of the drinking water samples that have been analysed to date.
The Department of Science and Innovation has formed a team of leading South African environmental scientists from a range of institutions to consider the environmental aspects of COVID-19. Researchers of the COVID-19 Environmental Reference Group look at weather, climate and air pollution effects to advise the epidemiological modelling group of the National Institute of Communicable Diseases and other modelling groups.
COVID-19 in the South African winter
Media advisory: 23 June 2020
Young researchers from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) will share their research on cybercrime activities and the spread of misinformation (fake news) during the COVID-19 pandemic at a media briefing scheduled to take place at the Government Communication and Information System in Pretoria (GCIS), on Tuesday, 23 June 2020.
Maintaining a healthy and safe organisation is a priority for the leadership. For us to attain zero harm, zero disabling injuries and zero fatalities, we need to continue to cultivate a culture of health and safety within the organisation. The CSIR has created a Safety and Health video for staff, contractors and visitors. Click here to watch the video
Infrastructure is critical to Africa’s development. But any infrastructure that is developed needs to be resilient – able to withstand challenges brought about by factors such as climate change, urbanisation and land-use change. A new guide helps decision-makers with resilience thinking when considering infrastructure projects on the continent. The guide focuses on energy, transport and water.
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The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) are set to work together to develop technologies and infrastructure to support socio-economic development in South Africa and Southern Africa.