An appalling act of censorship

"A clean South Africa" suppressed: If you don't like the message, shoot the messenger

The Top Brass at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) didn't like some of the slides Dr Anthony Turton wanted to include with his key-note address to its conference "Science Real and Relevant" on November 18.  Turton's paper is entitled "Three Strategic Water Quality Challenges That Decision-Makers Need To Know About And How The CSIR Should Respond".

So they ordered him to withdraw the slide presentation. And then suspended their leading researcher on water and political science because he "elected to engage with the media on the matter of the withdrawal of his presentation ... in contravention of organizational policy" despite his denial that it was he who had made it available to the media.

By doing so the CSIR is guilty of an appalling act of censorship reminiscent of the Nationalist Party's apartheid era.

Why appalling? Because the CSIR is a public institution substantially financed by South African taxpayers who are entitled to know the results of its scientists' research. Particularly when they sound warning bells, as Turton does, over the increasing contamination of their drinking water. More broadly South Africa's nascent democracy needs to encourage and protect the right of free speech and free assembly. That's why they are guaranteed in the Constitution.

It hardly needs to be added that the CSIR, of all public institutions, should nurture and safeguard a spirit of free enquiry and debate within and beyond its own community. By slamming a lid on what Dr Turton proposed to show to his colleagues, the CSIR's decision-makers have not only brought their institution into disrepute and insulted the intelligence of South Africans, they have exposed the country to international ridicule.

So what was this eminent scientist proposing to show that so disturbed CSIR's chief executive that he decided to take the drastic step of withholding Turton's presentation? Pressed to explain by the Sunday Times a spokesperson claimed some statements in Turton's paper "could not be sufficiently substantiated". But declined to say which and why.

Pressed by the Sunday Times, CSIR's chief executive, Sibusiso Sibisi, said he had decided Turton's presentation should be withdrawn because accompanying slides "departed significantly from the content of his paper" including photographs that depicted a child with birth defects living in an area affected by mining waste thus implying it was cause and effect. Such an inference was "based on a single data point, on a single child" and was therefore "not defensible science".

Does this sound like a reasonable justification for ordering the withdrawal of the entire slide presentation that supplemented his comprehensive examination of South Africa's water crisis, its potential for limiting South Africa's future economic growth and consequently its prospects for political stability?

All Sibusiso needed to do have done was ask Turton to omit the few offending slides or add an appropriate note of caution. That he canned the entire slide presentation suggests there could be other reasons.

Among the following excerpts from Turton's paper the reader may find some clues:

-- Water scarcity will set a limit to South Africa's future economic development and social well-being.

-- Because South Africa's major cities are located on watershed divides "... effluent return flow... is a major threat to future economic development simply because the quality of the water is so degraded that it becomes unfit for human consumption". And the ability to dilute pollutants and effluents is so impaired that discharge water will need to be treated to ever higher standards.

-- Moving water over great distances across watershed divides has had unintended consequences.  It has created an ideal environment for toxic cyanobacteria bloom (blue-green algae that can produce toxins dangerous to animals and humans); raised levels of pollution from mining in the form of radionuclides (radio active contaminants), heavy metals and sulphates; and generated endocrine disruptors that impair the functioning of the body's hormones. In addition using chemicals to kill malaria-carrying mosquitoes can result in urogenital defects and the spread of microcystins that cause pooling of the blood in the liver that's rapid and irreversible.

There is also "the need to mitigate the impact of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) from both coal and gold sectors which has the capacity, if left unmanaged, to destroy the last remaining water resource on which the economic aspirations of a nation depend".

According to Turton the impending shortage of clean water will force South Africa to choose between accepting that the economic growth targets set in ASGISA cannot be reached OR rethinking how to mobilize its science, engineering and technology in "a concerted effort" to reach them.

Turton believes that the first choice would mean that the economy would grow so slowly that "with a reasonable certainty social instability will grow and  South Africa will slowly slide into anarchy and chaos ....The recent xenophobic violence is, in my professional  opinion, but a foretaste of things to come ... So that  choice is simply not an option".

In support of this contention Turton refers to South Africa's historic legacy---- a legacy "based on violence and the disrespect of human rights that still lives with us today", along with a propensity to resort to violence when expectations exceed the capacity to deliver.  A majority of citizens remain mired in endemic poverty and international investor confidence has been eroded by recent xenophobic attacks.

Asks Turton: "Can this type of anger be unleashed in response to perceptions of deteriorating public health as a result of declining water quality?"

Turton believes "trust is vital in a country which is still engaged in nation-building ... Trust is earned and in this regard the CSIR has a unique potential to act as honest broker when contested situations arise needing  robust scientific solutions such as human health risks arising from chronic exposure to populations living adjacent to gold mining operations".

Meanwhile South Africa's existing water-related physical infrastructure (tunnels, treatment works, pumping stations, pipelines etc.) is approaching the end of its useful life thus eroding confidence that there will be enough water for sustainable economic growth.

Another cause for alarm is that already "a significant proportion of South Africa's local authorities lack civil engineering professional support.

As a result, particularly in rural areas, local authorities most likely to be affected by deteriorating water quality ... are the least capable of removing "microcystins, endocrine disrupting chemicals, and anti-retroviral medications (ARVs) from their water".

That lack of professional engineering support has been exacerbated , Turton argues, by affirmative action employment rules that encourage emigration. South Africa is today producing fewer engineers than are leaving the profession and fewer are in research, national and provincial government

Unfortunately, according to Turton, the CSIR's ability to address the unintended consequences of the way the country's water resources have been utilized has been impaired by a shift from being financed by grants to a mix of grants and contracts.  That has had "a catastrophic effect on our science, engineering and technology (SET) capacity..... Our need for technological solutions is growing exponentially while our capacity to create those solutions is declining exponentially. Private funding removes that science from the public domain by placing contractual restrictions on both its scope and dissemination".

Hopefully these few excerpts from Turton's comprehensive overview will convey to the reader the seriousness of his warning that South Africa's deteriorating availability of clean water is placing severe limitations on its capacity for rapid economic growth as well as posing serious threats to the nation's health and its prospects for political stability.

As for the CSIR, Barbara Hogan, Minister of Health, should call for Turton's immediate reinstatement and a full report on Sibisi's action.

Sign up to receive the Politicsweb daily headlines. Click here.

Comments

If you come across comments that are injurious, defamatory, profane, off-topic or inappropriate; contain personal attacks or racist, sexist, homophobic, or other slurs, please report them and they will be removed.

 

responses to this article

SOLVED Free carbon credits! to those who can mass produce water efficiently. Are the culprits selling CCs? by The G on December 03 2008, 05:34 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Malema Mugabe Mbeki Zuma - all the same Do as we say or else. Go against us at your peril. Zuma wants machine guns, Mugabe seems to starve his people to death and his police kill people who give him trouble, Mbeki - well he said HIV does not cause AIDS and hundreds of thousands died and seems . .more to think Mugabe is a great guy so presumably he agrees with Mugabe's genocide, Malema is on record as saying he will kill for Zuma so one assumes he means this as I have yet to see a total withdrawal and a no strings attached apology in writing. They are like the Nats and possible as bad as the Nazi's in my opinion. We are facing terrible times in South Africa. . .less by ANC Censorship on December 03 2008, 06:24 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

From a former Water Affairs Methinks Palmer misses the real reasons: 1 Turton is not ANC 2 He does not toe the ANC party line 3 He is not sufficiently respectful & deferential to the ANC 4 Turton is honest about our collapsing water system. Her most . .more gracious excellency, the honourable Minister of Water Affairs & Forestry, has lied about this. Turton provides the evidence to the contrary. 5 Turton shows the increasing health risks from one of the Minister's pet obsessions: providing flush toilets to those who cannot afford and cannot maintain them. 6 Turton highlights further consequences of ANC fiscal myopia (infrastructure underspend). Dwaf insiders are already talking about the possiblity of "Water Shedding". 8 Turton is even-handed in describing the oppression of Boer by Brit and the Mfecane instead of just focussing on apartheid. 9 The caption to *those* photos links the "burning issues" to ANC failures (service delivery, immigration policies ...). 10 Above all, Turton quotes Canadian academic, Homer-Dixon's theory of "Technical Ingenuity" to explain the gap between rich & poor nations. By bringing this into the national discourse, Turton is (a) removing blame from apartheid, racism & class oppression (b) touching the raw nerves the thin-skinned who cannot tolerate any (indirect) allusion to AA or BEE, even though this wasn't his intention . .less by I'm a lumberjack and I'm okay on December 03 2008, 07:57 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

The bullies of the ANC are fast learning the tactics of totalitarianism. These tactics are extremely useful when you are also incompetent and need to suppress discussion of your ineptitude by JW on December 03 2008, 08:26 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Time is running out! All those of you who are homesick and thinking of returning and those of us thinking of leaving - take heed! by Going Going Gone on December 03 2008, 08:31 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

ANC You can whatever you want about the ANC - but the truth of the matter is ANC is the Peoples chice, we are ruling you. Like it or not!!! by Mike McDonald on December 03 2008, 08:41 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Who is George Palmer? What does he do for a living? How is he involved in this? by purify me on December 03 2008, 09:15 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Rubbish I would imagine a company can choose which research gets published under its name. The dude seems to have an agenda, which he's squeezing through his paper. Yes, I've read it. by Richard on December 03 2008, 09:32 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

His Masters Voice Sibisi must be fired; he is just another politician that is more interested in self-preservation than acknowledging that the Emperor is Naked. Like Mugabe who is still in denial that there is a crisis in his country, so the ANC denounces anyone who . .more challenges their fast rising incompetence. COPE could not have surfaced at a better time in our country's politics to curb the ruling party's excesses and increasingly corrupt mentality. The ANC's opposition must stand up now or watch how the ANC's absolute power corrupts absolutely. . .less by Naked Emperor on December 03 2008, 09:33 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

What could one expect when... ANC policy has propagated the following, ie.:- 1. Free potable water for all. 2. Free water borne sewerage for all. 3. Rescheduled and sold new order mineral rights to all and sundry without ensuring that environmental impact accessments . .more for each individual alotment were properly assessed prior to granting mineral rights to applicants (cart before the horse!). 4. Independant decission making taking place between the ministers and administrative heads of responsible departments. In other words uncordinated decission making by incompetent leaders in society. 5. Failed to implement a Social Cost Benefit Analysis in the decission making process, therefore society leaders have no idea that a policy of water borne sanitation to all, will result in an increased demand in sewerage purification works, and spent their time and taxpayers money selling toll road rights to entrepreneurs for roads which were in effect still owned by the SA public. 6. Appointeed political administrative heads to previously competent institutions who have a limited knowledge of research- Sibusiso's former research experience is probably limited to the workings of a ball point pen- breaking it! Be that as it may, Anthony Turton's credentials are internationally recognized, he will be able to be gainfully employed anywhere in the world!!! . .less by Sipho on December 03 2008, 09:56 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

How do you expect The head of the CSIR isnt even properly educated, how do you expect him, the government to UNDERSTAND the paper. No, no people, consult the rain queen and sangoma's, THEY know what is good for the country. Remember the famous word uttered (and will be . .more denied). Mathematics and science is another form of apartheid, its the white man's science. Mmmm . .less by Francois on December 03 2008, 10:06 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

to hope or not to hope Mike McDonald...perhaps you should review your comment before posting!!! Seems to be a problem in the ANC ranks...comment before consideration. If you folks in the ANC spent more time considering your response to public opinion, you may not have . .more to spend so much time defending yourselves. Please learn to check your grammar and spelling before criticising intelligent opinion with 'Stalinist' comments! Purify me...sounds like Mr. Palmer is just a concerned citizen with an intelligent viewpoint...this needs to be encouraged. Remember folks, it is common in our beloved country that where there is smoke, there is fire! If there is even a modicum of truth (and I suspect there is) to the censored presentation of Turton, then we have some serious issues to be concerned about! My hope is that someone, somewhere within the powers that be, has the courage to investigate the matter further. . .less by El Enano on December 03 2008, 10:07 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

media hype this is all media hype im not surprised they pulled Turton's paper.. sure, there are some valid points re our water resources, but why cloak them in historical / political speak? are the arguments not strong enough to standalone? by drivel on December 03 2008, 10:15 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Disolved Anti-Retroviral Salts What is also not told is that 80% of our drinking water is recycled - no problem except that they cannot get the disolved anti-retroviral salts out of the water, so we are consuming ever increasing amounts of these salts! There must be some side effect . .more surely?? . .less by Speak UP! on December 03 2008, 10:36 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

UHURU collapse constant Turtons sin was to include an UHURU Collapse Constant in his paper. All infrastructure in Africa can have its remaining lifetime calculated as follows: if CURRENT YEAR - FREEDOM YEAR > 15 then collapse is imminent the UHURU Collapse . .more constant = 15 . .less by comedy director on December 03 2008, 12:30 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

RICHARD THE TURD "Rubbish I would imagine a company can choose which research gets published under its name. The dude seems to have an agenda, which he's squeezing through his paper. Yes, I've read it. by Richard on December 03 2008, . .more 09:32" RICHARD u are obviously an IDIOT- YOU obviously no nothing about water affairs and please be AWARE this is not a COMPANY, but a so called reputable SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTION where the head ihoncho is UNQUALIFIED!!!!!!!!! ENOUGH SAID!!!!11 . .less by INCREDULOUS on December 03 2008, 12:44 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

right that's it.... ....i'm off to woolies to buy a big pack of valpre by charlie on December 03 2008, 12:58 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

George Palmer For those who do not know, George Palmer was the founding editor of the Financial Mail more than 40 years ago. So a very experienced journalist. by William Shakespeare on December 03 2008, 12:58 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Black and White Why instead of debating the report are we going on and on about "The Government/ANC" vs White people? When are we going to stop being emotional every time we are faced with challenges in this country? JUST STOP IT! Have some emotional intelligence and . .more debate issues and not people (Black, Indian, White, Coloured or Japanese)! STOP WASTING OUR TIME, we need to move on. If you don't want to do it for yourself, PLEASE do it for the future generation and STOP poisoning the country with your mentalities! . .less by South African on December 03 2008, 13:07 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

actually it's like this..... In Africa things break down about a decade after the whites get told that they are superfluous to the country. Then, when the breakages are reported the remaining technologists slowly get fired because they, apparently expect the darkies to actually . .more do some work in keeping things going. We all know that maintenance is for wimps and not for the world's heroes. By an act of sheer magic, as the whiteys disappear and reports of breakages get fewer all of a sudden the problem disappears. or at any rate no further mention is made of infrastructure break-down. This is the magic of Africa . .less by Cassandra on December 03 2008, 13:14 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Black Ignorance and White Beliefs This silly issue clearly highlights the interaction between white beliefs and black ignorance. I just wonder if there's any real inteliigence left in the country. by HateGauteng on December 03 2008, 13:24 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

White Beliefs and Black Ignorance This incident clearly highlights the interactive between white beliefs and black ignorance. I wonder if there is any real intelligance left in the country. (I avoid using my own, it gets me frustrated). (Now c'mon editor - delete this posting. . .more It is pretty evident that you only allow one sided opinions on this forum) . .less by HateGauteng on December 03 2008, 13:36 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Honest men - the real issue To South African As a fellow born-and-bred South African, I would be interested to hear how you propose to debate issues with the people "in charge", given that you will be ignored by the incumbents, no matter how well-founded or well-meant your . .more arguments. The majority of these supposed public servants are in reality nothing more than ANC political appointees, backed by the Communists, whose sole aim in taking office is to enrich themselves at every possible opportunity. No amount of rhetoric is going to change that. We need a national re-awakening. I view the present breaking of ranks within the ANC itself is one of the most positive happenings in South Africa in many years and believe that it is the fore-runner to that re-awakening and a re-building of the moral stature of the nation. What do you think ? . .less by Richard on December 03 2008, 13:46 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

ANC Asleep at the wheel ANC Asleep at the wheel again, same as Eskom, SAA, SA Police, Home Affairs, ...ANC must stop appointing people who could be easily manipulated to the helm of state utilities, but should consider merit and performance. Unless they do so, Africa . .more will literally remain the 'dark continent' as labelled by colonialists . .less by Lovemore Mabandla on December 03 2008, 13:46 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@South African... don't be so naive and please start getting real! My black breatheren in the far North-west of the Winterveld are already experiencing water supply problems whereby one community has turned off the water supply to another community due to the ANC building . .more a needed facility within the precincts of the second communities. Those guilty of turning off the water already have a similar facility within their precinct, so tribal friction is now in an advanced stage. Maybe they should turn off the water to your house and let you carry is for miles and still have to get to work smelling clean. Anthony is right- there is a ticking time bomb out there and people like you who remain uninvolved still have the audacity to make light of a serious problem. Maybe you should emigrate!!! . .less by Sipho on December 03 2008, 14:11 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Different person Have just become aware that another Richard has posted comments in this thread as well. I'm Richard B. by Richard on December 03 2008, 14:27 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Water on yer face Turton has a sense for drama and likes to colour things in a bit...and thats why certain people just don laaik it. We all know what he says is true....but those up there dont like to be called out. It hink he should focus on the scientific facts and . .more tone down his opinions on social aspects. Science...in the end...always wins! . .less by Schmocracy on December 03 2008, 14:37 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Take it elsewhere Show some guts, Anthony. Take your findings to an independent publisher. by Ryan on December 03 2008, 15:14 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Dont you people know that something is only broken if you admit it is broken. The ANC never admit anything so therefore there are no problems -only white colonialist problem makers. by Pie eye on December 03 2008, 16:41 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Cassandra: is this what the rest of the world politely calls "black magic"? I always wondered about its origins but now it makes sense. by Dave on December 03 2008, 16:48 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@South African: It's time YOU wake up o pel. The ANC will cover up its ineptitude until Jesus comes. Concerned and genuine South Africans should stand up and be counted before its too late. SA is falling apart and you are just another dumb animal in Animal Farm. by Dave on December 03 2008, 16:52 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@ South African Can't handle the truth? Thats your problem. Get some backbone. This seems to be the general malaise of South Africans these days. Backbone includes acknowledging some things have gone irrepearable awry. Backbone includes acknowledging some are not up to . .more it running a modern economy, and should remove themselves, otherwise the able will remove themselves. Short before long you will become second Cathy Buckle, writing out of Joburg. . .less by Another South African on December 03 2008, 16:58 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Like ZimBobWe, there is NO crisis with SA water. Fire the entire upper-echelon of the CSIR by WhaataPoosiam on December 03 2008, 17:39 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Grootvlei (East Rand) leaking poison into the 120mL of silphate polluted water is pumped from this old disused mine daily into the Blesbokspriut. It flows from there into the Vaal by Gotcha on December 03 2008, 19:41 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Water Crisis in SOuth Africa If South Africa is experiencing a water crisis then I know it is the work of the White racisits just as much as they pumped AIDS into the blood of Black people, they are contaminating the water resources in South Africa. I agree this dude has issue with . .more Affrimitive Action, ASGISa and all the policies of the ANC> I am not an ANC supporter but I can detect a racisit when I come across one. Sounds to me like this person has been hanging around Dr. Wouter Basson "the killer scientist" for too long. . .less by Genuine South African on December 03 2008, 19:42 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

water crisis? what water crisis? Ilive in the gauteng region (when I am not visiting and holding hands with m paland chum Bobby). My chauffeur drives me through wonderful areas every day on my way to ork. We drive past green fields, and rivers and irrigation sprays. It . .more would be true to say that I pass water every day. . .less by Thabissimo on December 03 2008, 21:22 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Genuine South African I suppose you never wondered whether you are a poor judge of character! Pitty, because it is far*ts like you who suffer from the Mbeki syndrome-burry your head in the sand and let the guano fly overhead! by Koos de Dos on December 03 2008, 21:28 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

in nature there are just consequences the embarressing suspension of Turton by the CSIR will not change the coming water crisis just like the electricity crisis. at least Turton stood up and was counted unlike Gcbashe who just collected his millions despite all the damage he caused to our . .more economy and his countrymen by remaining mute. . .less by semaarnet on December 03 2008, 22:36 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Top Brass White racisits just as much as they pumped AIDS into the blood of Black people. Where did you fall out of the tree - Bushwack University? Don't spread lies. They will catch up with you. by Top A** on December 04 2008, 09:33 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Dr Sibizi went to Cambridge Just to correct some readers including Francois: Dr sibisi of the CSIR qualified at Cambridge; that is, Cambridge as in Oxford. by Jaydee on December 04 2008, 11:24 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Dig the hole deeper Why does Dr Subisi love to dig himself a hole and keep digging. The CSIR's response has been a classic example of how not to respond and for years to come, MBA students should use it as an example of how not to use PR. Firstly, if you want to refute a . .more scientist, you use a bigger and better scientist. You do not use Tracy from PR to make an announcement unless you state what her qualifications are. All you do is make Tracy look silly. Also, if you have a PR dollybird to do your announcements, make sure she has a name with some gravitas, like Annemarie or Victoria. I believe the CSIR's girlie was Christie which is not quite as bad as Tracy and certainly better than Hotbabe, but not much. Secondly, I question the advice given by the CSIR's legal people. they give the impression of making comments that a first year law student ould make mincemeat; for example, the argument that Dr turton infringed CSIR's policies on the press is so obviously unconstitutional, it beggars belief. Surely the legal girlies should have stood on their hind legs and instructed their managers thus? . .less by Jaydee on December 04 2008, 11:25 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

To Koos De Dos Before you call me a fart you should accept that you are a stupid denialist. Come up with facts and prove me wrong aout the work of your evil brother Wouter Basson. If there is indeed a water crisis in South Africa, then why link the whole matter to . .more Affirmative Action and ASGISA, the link is far fetched if you ask me. The bottom line is , is there a part of the world where water is not a scarce commodity? Due to the impact of global warming water is fast becoming a scarce commodity in any part of the planet. Learn your facts before you open your smelly Afrikaaner mouth and talk bull. . .less by Genuine South African South African on December 04 2008, 17:03 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

No hope. The water crisis is real.Any one who denies it,is in desperate need of some intelligence. I also read the report and the problem,according to the history, already started with the NP.The ANC was told there is a problem,but choose to ignore . .more it.And that is where the real problem lies.They choose to ignore problems till it hits them.Then they want to act.But in this case if they dont act very very soon.We are going to run in big problems. Do you realy think the man in the street is going to stand still if there is no safe water to drink.If there children is killed by the water they must drink.If the ANC choose not to listen they must be charged criminal.Then they are killing the people of SA. ANC never listen to good advice,all the problems this country is having,is because the ANC want to prove to the world they dont need the white people. It is such a pity. Together we could have changed SA for the better.But the black people ignored the hand of friendship instead they embarked on a course to destroy the white man. But when you want to destroy somebody else you will always destroy yourself in the process. I had hope for this land,till I realised you want to destroy,and not build and work together to a better land. . .less by ALkie on December 05 2008, 01:55 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Name
Subject
Comment