New #ForWaterForLife podcast series launched

Hosted by editor, TV and radio presenter and writer Gugulethu Mhlungu and writer, activist and development consultant Sekoetlane Phamodi, the duo delve into topics that include macadamia nuts and nanotech, extracting useful materials from human urine, revitalising the Jukskei, and drilling for groundwater to survive South Africa’s extreme drought cycle.

Highlighting the value, scarcity of water

“#ForWaterForLife is a podcast series highlighting the story, the value and the scarcity of water in southern Africa," says Phamodi. "We ‘travel’ through South Africa in each episode to meet a guest who has made it their life's work to protect, preserve and replenish the water supply in our water-scarce country.”

From indigenous knowledge to cutting-edge science, each episode reveals the challenges and insights of geologists, healers, innovators, farmers, organisers and activists as they #listentothewater.

Domestic water solutions company, JoJo, has sponsored the podcast. “Water is our most precious resource,” says MD Grant Neser. “It is also a resource that is under increasing risk. We can offer storage, filtration and sanitation solutions across the country, but we also need everyone to unify and take a very personal responsibility for the water we access and use every day. Our pay off line across all our products and services is ‘for water, for life’ and we hope this series is the start of people truly listening to the water in order to spark behaviour change by positively affecting water saving, recycling and harvesting awareness among listeners.”

The first podcast was released on Tuesday, 1 September, and the rest will be shared over the next 11 Tuesdays. Listeners are invited to share their thoughts and feedback using the 1min voice note functionality via Instagram DM (@forwaterforlife).

Listen to the podcast series via Iono.fm, Spotify, Stitcher or Apple iTunes.