Would a Karoo apprenticeship network solve two problems at once?
An apprenticeship network could create a practical route from learning to earning while protecting knowledge that the Karoo is in danger of losing.
Naomi Roebert
The ancient underground life of Karoo termites
Some of the Karoo’s most important environmental work is performed in darkness as, beneath the shrubs and stones, millions of termites rebuild the ground.
Why old blankets, enamelware and riempie furniture endure
Practicality doesn't have to be the only defence of an old object. A blanket could matter because it covered several generations. An enamel basin recalls a grandmother’s kitchen, while the creak of a riempie chair can bring back a childhood room.
What makes a proper Karoo lamb dish?
Science can explain aromatic plants and cooking temperatures but it can't settle the debate over whether a proper lamb pot needs carrots, whether tomato belongs in a bredie or how ribs should be basted.
Wind farms are changing the work of bird conservationists
The work of conservationists now helps decide not only what should be protected, but where and how energy infrastructure should be built.
Karoo municipalities still under scrutiny despite Treasury releasing funds
The release of the July money lowers the immediate risk of disruption for Karoo residents. The larger question is still unanswered: whether the affected councils can correct the problems before the next funding decision arrives in December.
The Karoo economy is entering a period of change
Renewable energy, specialised agriculture, tourism and science are likely to feed into the Karoo economy over the next 20 years. The real test will be whether major investments create lasting local businesses and skills or simply pass through the region.