S.A. Agulhas II departs for Gough Island
Departure of Gough Island Voyage from Cape Town
A departure ceremony took place at East Pier, Cape Town today. Mr. Rodgerson Hlophe(right) – Acting Director: Southern Oceans and Antarctic Support was the Programme director and introduce the takeover personnel and the Gough 70 overwintering team.
Acting Chief Director: Specialist Monitoring Services Ashley Johnson gave a farewell speech to GOUGH 70 overwintering team. and wishes them all the best for the time they will spend on Gough Island.
Cover Photo: Tom McSherry
Celebrating Women’s Day within SANAP community
Theme of the National Women’s Day Commemoration:
“Celebrating 30 Years of Freedom Towards Women’s Development”
In the SANAP community we are celebrating all those involved as Researchers, Scientists, and Students at tertiary and research institutions and infrastructures, and personnel within the National Research Foundation, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, the Department of Public works and Infrastructure, the South African Weather Services, the South African National Space Agency, the South African Polar Research Infrastructure and all the women serving as part of the crew of the S.A. Agulhas II.
Celebrating our women overwintering team members at our stations: Antarctica (SANAEIV), Marion Island and Gough Island.
2024 women’s day commemoration is a reminder of the important contributions that are made by women to society, as well as a time to reflect on the advances in women’s rights. During 30 years of democracy, South Africa has made significant strides in advancing gender equality in all domains of society, including economic empowerment of women.
Women’s Day 2024 is the first national day led by the Government of National Unity (GNU) and takes place in a rural community as part of including all South Africans in national events, and placing a focus on the achievements and needs of women in all corners of the country. President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to officiate the national Women’s Day commemoration in Pofadder in the Namakwa District, Northern Cape. – SAnews.gov.za
Official Gough 69 Overwintering Team Photo
(Back L – R) Meshack Mogorosi – Diesel Mechanic (DFFE) and Team Leader; Lucy Dorman – Field Assistant – Birder (RSPB); Mbulaheni Kelcey Maewashe – Senior Meteorological Technician (SAWS); Fulufhelo Brenda Khobo – Meteorological Technician (SAWS); Hannah Greetham – Field Assistant – Birder (RSPB); Fulufhelo Singo – Electrical Engineer (DFFE)
(Front L – R) Mndeni Hlatshwayo – Medical Orderly (DFFE); Mayembe Kapenda – Communications Engineer (DFFE); James Burns – Meteorological Technician (SAWS)
- DFFE: Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
- SAWS: South African Weather Services
- RSPB: The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Photo available on SANAP website and on ALSA archive
Season’s Greetings from SANAP Overwintering Teams
All team members at the stations at SANAE IV, Marion Island and Gough Island wish you all a happy festive season.
SANAE IV – S62
SANAE IV – S62 MARION 80
MARION 80GOUGH 69
GOUGH 69The SANAP community We would also like to wish the SANAP overwintering teams a happy festive season!
Gough Island Expedition 2023: South African Weather Service
More about the South African Weather Service team on the recent Gough Island takeover expedition.
L-R: James Joubert Burns, Velelo Mazele, Samkelisiwe Thwala, Khuliso Collen Maphaha, Fulufhelo Brenda Khobo and Kelcey Maewashe.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has been part of the South African National Antarctic Programme (SANAP) from the beginning, when the first team was appointed to stay on Gough Island. The metkassies (meteorological overwintering team members) continue to contribute to a long history of data collection on Gough Island. This includes an automatic weather station that measures temperature, wind speed and direction, humidity, and pressure.
What can the new overwintering team on the island look forward to?
The metkassies when on shift do visual observations which includes cloud height and type, horizontal visibility, precipitation type, weather present and past and sea temperature. Formal observation is done every hour from 06:00GMT until 15:00GMT and then every 3 hours during night shift. This is done every day of the week.
| TEAM | South African Weather Service (SAWS) |
|---|---|
| Project Name | Atmospheric and Ocean interaction studies |
| Principal Investigator | Dr. Jonas Mphepya |
| Takeover Team Leader | Samkelisiwe Thwala |
| Takeover Technical Support Member | Velelo Mazele |
| Senior Meteorological Technician (Gough68) | Khuliso Collen Maphaha |
| Assistant Meteorological Technician (Gough68) | Mphumzi Brooklyn Zilindile |
| Assistant Meteorological Technician (Gough68) | Tshililo Kharivha |
| Senior Meteorological Technician (Gough69) | Kelcey Maewashe |
| Assistant Meteorological Technician (Gough69) | James Joubert Burns |
| Assistant Meteorological Technician (Gough69) | Fulufhelo Brenda Khobo |
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Project information supplied by SAWS. Images supplied by Mbulaheni Kelcey Maewashe and James Burns (G69 team members).
Anche Louw, South African Polar Research Infrastructure, 09 November 2023.
