Make It Make Sense - Hartebeespoort Dam And The On-Going Battle Of The Hyacinths

--:--

The Hartebeespoort Dam is one of SA’s most beloved recreational and leisure spaces. The dam in recent years has struggled significantly with the infestation of the Hyacinth plant, which rapidly grows and covers its water surface, and affecting the dam’s natural eco-system and local tourism. The megamelus bugs are the insect army that has been deployed onto the dam by the Centre for Biological Control (CBC) at Rhodes University to tackle the dam’s decades-long infestation, which has shown much success. Last year around October, the bugs managed to bring down the Hyacinth coverage to just 5% of the dam. However, as 2025 kicked off, 40% of the dam is covered again. Dr Kelby English from the CBC at Rhodes university, helps us make sense of the situation affecting the much loved dam.

27 Jan English South Africa Music · Comedy

Other recent episodes

Drive Moment - Fathers, What Was The Best Gift You’ve Ever Received On Father’s Day

In the build-Up to Father’s Day, we’re asking Fathers about the one gift that actually made their hearts happy. Was it something lavish or simple? Was it an unforgettable "dream gift", or a simple gift that had a lot of thought and love? In today's Drive Moment, it was interesting…

11 Jun 13 min

Drive Moment - Pride, Has it Ever Held You Back From Success?

We all have a struggle, and maybe, some of us find beauty or honour in struggling alone, figuring it all out alone, and then being able to later say "I did it" when you become successful one day. However, could we be holding onto unhelpful ideas, of hyper-independence, and self-sufficiency,…

12 Jun 15 min

Drive Moment - As A Young Person, Do You Ever Feel Misunderstood By Older Generations?

Every year around youth month, the spotlight is on young people in South Africa. These are teenagers, young adults, and those who are under the age of 35. The media, academics, politicians, parents, and elders, speak loudly about their assumptions on youth issues. However, does Youth Month sometimes miss its…

10 Jun 14 min

Make It Make Sense With Ayanda Nyathi - Freezing Food, Are Food Safety Measures Always Necessary?

Our freezers are life savers that preserve our food for long periods of time. Ever wondered about how to freeze your food correctly, how long it should be frozen for, and how freezer hygiene impacts your food? Believe it or not, there are safety measures that we should be taking…

9 Jun 21 min

Drive Moment - When You Look In The Mirror, What Do You See?

An interesting video online, highlighted the moment when various animals in the wild were brought face to face with a mirror for the first time. Among the animals was a leopard, bear, gorilla, baboon, and a monkey. Animals don't really see their own reflection much, which is why this was…

6 Jun 11 min

All episodes