JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng, South Africa — Designer Pool Covers, a South African supplier and installer of pool covers, is drawing attention to the running costs that a covered pool avoids, arguing that heat retention and reduced evaporation make a cover one of the more cost-effective investments a pool owner can make. An uncovered pool loses heat from its surface, drives up chemical and filtration demand and accelerates water loss through evaporation. The company states that a well-fitted cover can reduce evaporation by up to 95 percent, a figure it attributes to the barrier a cover places between the water surface and the air. The company said the saving is not limited to water. A covered pool holds its temperature for longer, which reduces the energy required to heat it and the volume of sanitising chemicals consumed to keep it clear. Designer Pool Covers said those smaller monthly costs compound over a season, particularly for pool owners running pumps and heaters through summer. The company positions the argument as part of a broader move toward treating pool ownership as an energy and water decision, not only an aesthetic one. "A pool is one of the few home assets that quietly bills you every month," said Willem De Wet, founder of Designer Pool Covers. "Heating, chemicals, filtration and evaporation all add up. A cover attacks those costs at the source, because heat and water stay where they belong instead of going into the atmosphere." Designer Pool Covers supplies four cover types: thermal blankets, a pet and child safety cover, PoolDeck Slatted Automatic Covers and Automatic Vinyl Safety Covers. The company said thermal blankets are designed to lock in heat and reduce energy costs, while its automatic pool covers add convenience and, because they are approved safety devices, a barrier against accidental entry. The company states that its Automatic Vinyl Safety Covers can open and close in less than 60 seconds. Cost is the other half of the equation. …
South Africans Rally Against Litter as Plastics SA Marks 30 Years of Clean-up Action
Thousands of South Africans answered Plastics SA’s “It Starts With Me” call to action throughout the month of September, collecting litter, separating recyclables and taking responsibility for the places where they live, work and learn. Their efforts marked 30 years of Plastics SA’s clean-up campaign, with Clean-Up & Recycle SA Week taking place from 14–20 September. Among the highlights were more than 1,100 kg of waste collected across Cape Town clean-up campaigns and approximately 1,000 learners from 34 schools joining the “Sea the Change” event at Durban’s Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve. “What encouraged us most was seeing people of all ages getting involved and taking pride in their surroundings. Every clean-up takes effort, planning and people willing to give their time. We are grateful to the coordinators, volunteers and partners who made this year’s campaign possible and who continue to support it, 30 years after it began,” says Douw Steyn, Sustainability Director at Plastics SA. Highlights of the week In Cape Town, Polyoak Packaging’s Strandfontein Beach clean-up on 12 September helped build momentum ahead of the national week. Coordinated by Louisa Genenker of Polyoak Packaging and supported by Plastics SA, PETCO, Polyco and CleanC, the event saw employees, industry partners and community stakeholders joined in efforts to remove litter and prevent packaging waste from entering the marine environment. Across campaigns at Muizenberg, Strand Beach and Milnerton/Woodbridge, more than 1,100 kg of waste was collected. This included 700 kg removed from Sunrise Beach by Visions for Change and its partners. Volunteers at Strand Beach collected 41 bags of litter, with CL Trading participating as the recycling partner. Bottle tops, straws and cigarette butts were among the items recovered. Plastics SA also recognised Lisa Starr of the Helderberg Ocean Awareness Movement, Khotso Matlohane from Hotlane and Margo Adonis from Visions for …
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Crocworld Dives Into Sea Turtle Research With New Conservation Talk and Breakfast in October
Where do turtles come from? Where do they go? What do they eat? All these questions and more will be answered when PhD researcher Natalie Dos Santos (@natsdossantos) visits Crocworld Adventure & Conservation Centre on Saturday, 31 October at 10am, to share her first-hand experience of sea turtle research as part of Crocworld’s ongoing Conservation Talk programme. The talk will give guests an insight into the latest research being conducted along the KwaZulu-Natal coast, including fascinating underwater footage showing how researchers catch, tag, and track turtles as part of an ongoing acoustic telemetry study. “We’re thrilled to continue growing our Conservation Talk programme with topics that connect our visitors with the incredible biodiversity found both around Crocworld and along our coastline,” says Susan Badat, Manager of Crocworld Adventure & Conservation Centre. “Natalie’s work offers a fascinating opportunity to learn more about sea turtles and the important research being done right here on our doorstep. It’s exactly the kind of informative and engaging experience we want these talks to provide.” Going beneath the surface of sea turtle research Dos Santos is a PhD student at Nelson Mandela University who has spent the past eight years working with sea turtles. Her experience began on the nesting beaches of iSimangaliso Wetland Park in northern Zululand before shifting towards the comparatively understudied foraging grounds along South Africa’s east coast. Her PhD research investigates the ecological roles played by sea turtles on reefs, looking at where the animals originate through genetics, population numbers, movements, and feeding behaviour. “I’ll share some background in the talk but it will be focused on the work we’re doing now to learn about their movements,” says Dos Santos. “Specifically, an acoustic telemetry study of green turtles and hawksbills on Aliwal Shoal Marine Protected Area on the KZN South …
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Crocworld Relaunches as Family Adventure and Conservation Destination on KZN South Coast
A familiar Scottburgh landmark is entering an exciting new chapter! Crocworld Conservation Centre is being relaunched as Crocworld Adventure & Conservation Centre as it further embraces its position as a family-focused outdoor adventure destination with conservation at its heart. “We’re very excited to announce a host of new changes at Crocworld, some of which have already been implemented, with more to come!” says Susan Badat, Manager of Crocworld Adventure & Conservation Centre. “Crocworld has been part of Scottburgh for more than 40 years, and while our commitment to wildlife conservation and education remains at the heart of what we do, we continue to evolve with our community and our visitors.” Crocworld has been part of the KZN South Coast since 1985 – the year the famous Henry the Nile crocodile joined the team. Over the years, the centre has seen a significant shift towards eco-conservation and community education. This new chapter retains conservation at the heart, while embracing even more adventure and eco-education activities for all ages. “The vision is to position Crocworld as a leading family adventure and conservation park,” says Badat. “This is going to be a space for residents and visitors to connect with nature, to enjoy quality time spent outdoors keeping healthy and having fun, all the while raising funds for the ongoing conservation work being done at Crocworld.” 1. A growing network of adventure trails For those who prefer to explore on foot or by bike, the growing Crocworld Adventure Trails are becoming an increasingly important part of the destination. The trail network starts at Crocworld and connects into the broader Renishaw Coastal Precinct and surrounding areas, with more than 100km of trails developed and maintained through collaboration with local partners and sporting clubs. Routes currently available from Crocworld include 5km, 10km, 20km and 40km options, incorporating flowing sections, technical …
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El Niño Warning Makes Reliable Water Infrastructure a National Priority
As South Africa prepares for a potentially severe El Niño summer, the Southern African Plastic Pipe Manufacturers Association (SAPPMA) is warning that water security will depend not only on how much rain falls, but also on how effectively the country captures, transports and protects every available litre of water. SAPPMA is a voluntary, self-regulating, non-profit association that promotes quality and compliance throughout the plastic pipe value chain. Representing the majority of Southern Africa’s leading manufacturers and other industry stakeholders, the association works to ensure that plastic piping systems used in critical infrastructure are manufactured, specified and installed according to the relevant national and international standards. The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has confirmed that a strong El Niño event has developed and could intensify further during the 2026/27 summer. Although its precise regional effects remain uncertain, below-normal rainfall and above-normal temperatures are considered the most likely outcome across much of South Africa. These conditions could increase evaporation, place further pressure on water resources and intensify demand from households, agriculture and industry. According to Jan Venter, CEO of SAPPMA, this outlook makes the condition of South Africa’s water infrastructure an urgent national concern. “Drought preparedness cannot begin only when dams are already low. It must start with ensuring that the water we have reaches farms, businesses and communities without being lost through leaking, deteriorating or incorrectly installed pipelines,” Venter says. South Africa’s latest No Drop findings place the national level of non-revenue water at approximately 47.3%. This includes potable water physically lost through leaks, as well as apparent or commercial losses caused by inaccurate metering, billing failures and unauthorised consumption. “At a time when parts of the country could face hotter and …
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Designer Pool Covers Marks 14 Years of Pool Safety Innovation Across South Africa
Germiston, Gauteng, South Africa — September 11, 2026 — Designer Pool Covers, a South African specialist in custom swimming pool cover systems, continues to operate nationwide with installations completed across all nine provinces. Established in 2012, the company has protected more than 4,500 pools with safety covers, automatic slatted systems, and thermal solutions for residential and commercial properties. Company Background and National Footprint Designer Pool Covers was founded by Willem de Wet and Loraine Webster to address demand for reliable, high-quality pool cover installations in South Africa. The company maintains operational branches in Gauteng (Germiston), KwaZulu-Natal (Durban), the Western Cape (Cape Town and George), the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, and the Free State, with service coverage extending to all provincial regions. Through strategic partnerships, Designer Pool Covers has extended its operational reach into neighbouring territories including Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia, where regional partners supply and install the company's pool cover systems. The head office is located at Sunnyrock Park 3, Unit 2, 2 North Reef Road, Germiston, Gauteng, 1401. Product Range and Technical Specifications The company's product portfolio encompasses three primary categories of pool cover systems: Pet and Child Safety Covers — SABS-approved safety mesh covers supported by aluminum battens and secured with PVC overlap anchoring systems. These manual covers are custom-fitted to accommodate irregular pool shapes and are designed to support weight to prevent accidental submersion. PoolDeck Automatic Slatted Covers — Interlocking polycarbonate or PVC slats that operate via button or key control. The systems are installed on track mechanisms and function as both safety barriers and thermal retention covers. Installation timelines and motor specifications vary according to pool dimensions and rimflow configurations. Automatic Vinyl Safety …
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Metal Packaging Closes the Loop on Circularity
As packaging manufacturers, brand owners and retailers continue to focus on labelling, traceability, product identification and increasingly sophisticated barcoding technologies, the substrate on which this information appears remains equally important. For metal packaging, its ability to protect products, withstand demanding supply chains and retain value after use makes it an important contributor to South Africa’s transition towards a more circular economy. According to Dr Kishan Singh, CEO of MetPac-SA, the producer responsibility organisation representing the metal packaging industry, metal packaging should not be regarded simply as waste once its original contents have been consumed. “Metal packaging has an important advantage in that the material itself retains significant economic and resource value after use. Whether we are talking about a beverage can, food can, aerosol, closure or aluminium tray, the package can become a valuable feedstock for another manufacturing process rather than being lost to landfill,” Dr Singh says. Metal packaging is manufactured primarily from two material groups, i.e. aluminium and tinplate, or ferrous steel. Although both are highly recyclable, they enter different recycling and remelting streams and therefore need to be correctly separated during collection and sorting. The recycling journey essentially follows five stages: collection, sorting, processing, remelting and manufacture into new products. Aluminium remains a valuable secondary raw material The aluminium packaging stream encompasses considerably more than beverage cans. It includes used beverage cans, aerosols, foil packaging and trays, wine bottle caps and closures, pharmaceutical collapsible tubes and coffee pods. Once discarded, these materials enter the recycling chain through waste pickers, collection programmes, buy-back centres and other recovery channels. They are aggregated and sorted, contaminants and non-metal components are removed, …
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Protected Areas in South Africa: Key Analytical Insights
Why Protected areas? Protected areas are essential not only for the conservation of biodiversity but also for maintaining ecological sustainability and enhancing resilience to climate change. As integral components of South Africa’s ecological infrastructure, they safeguard ecosystems that provide critical ecosystem services, including clean water supply, flood regulation, soil erosion control, carbon sequestration, and scenic landscapes. These areas also contribute significantly to biodiversity-based tourism, which forms an important part of the country's tourism economy . Furthermore, protected areas support rural livelihoods and stimulate local economic development, particularly in areas where wildlife-based enterprises and conservation industries offer greater economic and employment opportunities than conventional agricultural activities. Biodiversity conservation and protected area management directly generate more than 20,000 jobs in South Africa, many of which are linked to conservation authorities and protected area management. Consequently, protected areas represent not only environmental assets but also valuable social and economic resources that contribute to sustainable development. Key findings from the national protected area extent account include: Protected Area Extent: In 2020, South Africa's protected area estate covered approximately 11.28 million hectares, representing 9.2% of the country's mainland surface area. Major Contributors: The largest contributors to the protected area network are Nature Reserves, National Parks, and Protected Environments, which collectively account for the majority of the country's protected land. Nature Reserves: Nature Reserves constitute 4.1% of South Africa's mainland area and account for 44.5% of the total protected area estate, making them the largest protected area category. They dominate the protected area network in all provinces except Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape. Nature Reserves …
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Sustainability Insights in South Africa (i.e. Environment, Climate and Nature Insights, SA: 2026)
1. Summary of key findings South Africa recorded one of its warmest years on record, ranking within the top ten since 1951 based on observations from 26 climate stations. The national annual mean temperature was approximately 0.4?°C above the 1991–2020 reference average. Long-term analysis indicates a statistically significant warming trend of about 0.17°C per decade between 1951 and 2025. From 2012–2021, South Africa saw an estimated 4,500 heat-related deaths annually, 3 times as many as annually in 1990-1999. South Africa boasts the largest expanse of agricultural land on the African continent. Between 2000 and 2011, the extent of land used for crop cultivation and livestock farming declined, but has since stabilized. By 2020, this area covered more than 96 million hectares — nearly 80% of the nation’s total land surface. Of this, approximately 87% was designated as permanent meadows and pastures, while close to 12.5% was classified as arable land suitable for crop production. In 2023, land dedicated to agriculture and animal production in South Africa accounted for roughly 79% of the nation’s total area. In 2024, South Africa’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions totalled approximately 569.8 million tons of CO?-equivalent. This marked a 2.6% increase from the previous year — an additional 14.4 million tons compared to 2023, when emissions stood at 555.4 million tons. On a per capita basis, emissions reached 9.31 tons CO?eq, significantly higher than the global average of 6.57 tons. Overall, South Africa contributed about 1.1% of global GHG emissions. According to Statistics South Africa, the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by a commendable 0.8% in the second quarter of 2025. This achievement underscores the vital role of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) in strengthening South Africa’s economic resilience. A notable R16.6 billion inventory buildup — driven by mining, transport, and manufacturing — further …
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WildED Is Growing a Greener Future With Arbour Day Tree-Planting in Scottburgh
This Arbour Day, WildED Africa - the learning hub at Crocworld Adventure & Conservation Centre - took learning beyond the classroom and into the community, joining forces with Keep Scottburgh Beautiful, Renishaw Hills, Gladiator Security Services and Scottburgh High School Enviro Club for a tree-planting initiative at the entrance to Scottburgh. On 1 September, WildED pupils worked with the community to transform a previously bare space into one that will grow and flourish for years to come. The morning ended with a picnic, giving the children an opportunity to enjoy the space they had helped create. “Conservation starts with understanding that we are part of nature, not separate from it,” says Simone Kiloran, WildED Adventure Educator. “When we allow the next generation to plant a tree and see the impact of their actions, we’re helping them develop a connection with the natural environment that can last a lifetime.” Leanne Dunnett, Education Lead at WildED, added: “This was an amazing way to start September and the growing season, and we’re so grateful for the incredible show of support from the community. This was an amazing learning experience for the children, who are now committed to revising the space and caring for the growing saplings.” For more information, email info@wilded.co.za or follow @wilded_africa on Instagram. CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za. Author: Agnes Matladi from Olivia Jones Communications on behalf of WildED. …