Innovations

South Africa harbours the highest number of rape incidents in the world, and sexual assault and rape cases in the entire SADC region are estimated at a minimum of 55 000 cases per year. Crime scene investigations utilise DNA technology on a regular basis. In cases of rape or sexual abuse, male

Fly ash is a waste by-product generated by coal-fired electricity power stations. Due to its environmental impact, there is a growing need for safe and sustainable methods of fly ash disposal. One effective approach is the beneficiation of fly ash through the production of zeolites—a class of

The risk of occupational exposure to aerosolised bio-contaminants (potentially pathogenic viruses, bacteria and yeasts) in dentistry and the dental office environment has been highlighted in the literature for many years. Removal of these aerosols would decrease oral healthcare workers' risk of

The collection and preservation of biological material for further DNA and RNA analysis are critical to many biomedical fields, from medical diagnostics to forensics and biodiversity conservation. The Forensic DNA lab at the University of the Western Cape has developed a novel, proprietary DNA

Surfactants are amphipathic molecules with both hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties that partition preferentially at the interface between fluid phases, such as oil/water or air/water interfaces. Such characteristics confer excellent detergency, emulsifying, foaming, and dispersing traits, which

The North-West University (NWU) has pioneered the novel use of Europium-Tellurium-Oxide (ETO) in the production of clean energy. ETO is a light-chargeable catalyst material that exhibits sustained and enhanced activity after light excitation has ended. Its unique characteristics present an

The invention relates to a novel process of partial oxidation of un-agglomerated chromite ore in ferrochrome production processes. The process includes the steps: Providing a source of un-agglomerated chromite ore; subjecting the source of un-agglomerated chromite ore to pre-oxidation at a

HIV/AIDS continues to disproportionately impact sub-Saharan Africa, where it remains a leading cause of illness and death among children. Paediatric HIV progresses at an alarming rate, with 20–30% of untreated infants succumbing to the disease within their first year. Without timely intervention

This technology offers a next-generation creatine powder formulated with food-grade components that enable instant mixing in water and long-term shelf stability. When added to liquid, the powder disperses rapidly and forms a clear, grit-free solution within seconds, avoiding the sedimentation and

Acute kidney injury presents as a rapid decrease in renal function and can be caused by severe trauma, illness, surgery or chronic medication, such as the use of antiretroviral treatment. Many assays used in disease detection were developed decades ago, and their performance is lacking. This is the

Drug regimens have not been optimised for individuals of African descent. This is due to several converging factors, including Africa’s diverse genetics, disproportionate disease burdens (and consequently a high dependency on specific drug regimens), as well as under-representation of local

The invention relates to the use of maghemite nanoparticles at pH less than 5 to remove sulphate, manganese, copper, nickel, cobalt and zinc metal ions from acid mine drainage (AMD). In conventional AMD treatment, these pollutants are only removed at higher pH, and that requires costly alkaline