"A number of factors ranging from green innovation, climate change, advances in technology, and global economic downturn are driving the need for a competitive and sustainable manufacturing value chain."

"“Decentralization of waste collection by creating local waste stations connected to regional waste treatment and recovery facilities, as a quick-win measure to salvage the situation. This approach will reduce transport-related emissions, promote community involvement in the circular economy, and create localized employment opportunities ensuring environmental, economic, and social co-benefits.”"

"Skill development within the manufacturing sector presents the advantage of high-quality products and can as well address long-term employment concerns through job creation."

"“Uncontrolled waste disposal as far reaching consequences for both human health and the planet. Aside from methane, poorly managed waste contributes to black carbon emissions from open burning, leachate pollution in soil and groundwater, and microplastic release in aquatic ecosystems.”"

"The complexity of today's factories calls for new and existing workers to up-skill in order to influence design changes and production efficiency toward sustainable manufacturing."

"The development of skills for sustainable manufacturing is crucial to ensuring an efficient transition to a competitive economy by matching supply and demand for key skills."

"I know what it feels like to be at the bottom of the health hierarchy, in a racially segregated and unequal health care system."

"We have come to tolerate ineptitude and leadership, management and governance failures; we do not have a fully functional district health system (DHS), which is the main vehicle for the delivery of primary health care; and we have not dealt decisively with the health workforce crisis."

"Science became my life’s work, research my passion and mentoring students my mission."

"I always knew I wanted to work with nature. Plant pathology became a calling, combining my love of biology with real-world impact. It connected my scientific interest with a moral purpose: to make food safer for everyone."

"Our mission is to use biotechnology and nanotechnology to develop accessible and affordable diagnostics for disease detection and monitoring."

"Engaged research is not merely about conducting studies; it's about creating meaningful partnerships that translate scientific innovation into tangible benefits for communities."

"In another sphere the late Prof. CL Wicht put forest hydrology on the world map with his catchment experiments at Jonkershoek on the effects of afforestation and forest management on stream flow."

"They are infinitely more precious than our much vaunted gold for they are vital not only to all sectors of our economy."

"Which he was a pioneer in the statistical design and evaluation of controlled catchment Experiments."

"One example being mulching to curb unproductive evaporation of soil moisture, so as to make more available for assimilation and thus the growth and yield of crops."

"Cloud seeding, again, is an example of an intervention with potential for both harm and good."

"We can also look back with admiration on the construction, largely by manual labour, of the Vaal-Hartz Irrigation Scheme."

"Even common practices such as burning large expanses of veld or ploughing them and planting mielies alter the quantity."

"At the risk of being trite, let me repeat what is well-known but tends to be overlooked."

"It was clearly the view of the "founding fathers."

"More often than not these changes, sometimes damaging, occur inadvertently and may be difficult to remedy."

"Time disposition and quality of runoff, base flow, and groundwater accrual, not to mention the quantity and quality of water reaching users downstream."

"They could have been anticipated by the foreknowledge whose acquisition is the task of the hydrological researcher."

"Such foreknowledge also enables us to manipulate hydrological processes beneficially."

"That our planet's water resources, dating back to its creation, are substantially fixed but are both highly mobile and subject to constant changes in form between the gaseous form."

"As you all well know, it is because South Africa's water supplies are at best undependable, and at worst grossly inadequate."

"Small wonder therefore that South Africa has a long and creditable history of water research and development."

"I recall hearing vivid accounts by the late Dr M S du Toit, an eminent soil scientist who later became Secretary for Agriculture."

"I am concerned about the brain drain of African scientists out of South Africa."

"We are using laser technology or laser-based technology for drug delivery."

"Interacting powerfully with other substances."

"The corporate style of management via a plethora of committees, which is so prevalent today."

"When the need arose to start thinking of desalinating and reusing water, Dr Stander of the CSIR earned world recognition."

"The Tugela-Vaal and Orange-Fish being two major examples."

"It seems to me that during the first 60 years of this century we relied more on the vision, initiative and drive of gifted individuals."

"A major scheme by any standards, which was undertaken primarily to give employment to many of those hit by the great depression of the early '30's."

"Our water resources are also highly variable and sensitive as regards quality."

"That the entire scheme was completed without provision of drainage canals for the return flow was certainly an oversight."

"Later came bold and imaginative schemes in yet another sphere, that of large-scale transfer of surplus water from some catchments to make good deficiencies in others."

"I use lasers to optically manipulate cells … my goal is to translate my research from petri dishes to human testing."

"I have dwelt on the events which led to the founding of the Hydrological Research Institute."

"What of the work for which the HRI was intended."

"The Interdepartmental Commission which, to counter the growing fragmentation of hydrological research, recommended the establishment of a central, unifying division of hydrological research that hydrology was, and should be nurtured as, a HOLISTIC science."

"This is a view I still uphold."

"With the result that a change in any one has a chain reaction on others, often with far-reaching consequences."

"The many hydrological processes are intricately interrelated."

"I’m talking about the whole social justice system because it's not just the perpetrators. It is the victims, their families, everybody around them. So, this whole matter of bringing justice to victims has many dimensions."

"I would also like to see more South African and African plants being commercialised nationally by a completely local supply chain – from researchers, manufacturers and formulators to the promotion of indigenous knowledge systems and traditional knowledge holders."