NEWSFLASH NEWS AGENCY 7 January 10:30 am

Good morning, here is your Eco Minute:

# In just two months, 11 vultures of three endangered species have been lost in South Africa. Founder of vulture rescue organisation Vulpro, Kerri Wolter, says these birds died from power line infrastructure or were caught for muti. She says this is a devastating loss to the Cape, White-backed and Lappet-faced vulture populations. Wolter is, however, glad they could release six Cape vulture fledglings at the Nooitgedacht colony in North West this week:

Play sound: ENG KerriWolterOnNooitgedacht

# A logistics company whose strategy is to deploy alternatives that align with its focus on environmental, social and governance issues now has a green banking facility in place to ensure these objectives are realised. The CEO of the Imperial Group, Mohammed Akoojee, says they have concluded a one-billion-rand deal with Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking for a sustainability-linked revolving credit facility. He says this demonstrates his company’s confidence in achieving environmental objectives linked to mitigating climate change.

# And finally, the City of Cape Town reassured residents who have detected an earthy flavour to their tap water that it remains safe to drink. Mayoral committee member for Water and Sanitation Zahid Badroodien says the change in taste is due to geosmin in the raw water supply. He says geosmin poses no threat to human health. It is a naturally occurring organic compound and is  sometimes present in water, particularly during periods of hot weather. Badroodien says council is monitoring the situation during water treatment processes.

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