by Ria Olivier | Jul 25, 2022 | Announcement, Antarctica, News, Newsletters>SANAE Newsletters, Overwintering Team, SANAE, SANAP, Stations, Team member, Team Photo
In this edition:
- The team writes about the last sunset before winter
- Meet the most experienced member of the expedition team, diesel mechanic, John Manyatsa Skelete
- Weather: May and June 2022 – maximum and minimum pressure, temperature, humidity, wind gust.
Click here to read/download the MAY/JUNE 2022 newsletter!
Message from the SANAE 61 team leader on Antarctica, JC Laubscher:
“It is going well here at SANAE IV, it is just insanely cold outside (-40 degrees average). Luckily, the sun has peeked over the horizon today, after 33 days of absence. This is another expedition milestone reached! We’ve also passed the halfway mark of this expedition and we’re looking forward to the second half and of course summer!”
VIDEO: Click here to see what happens when you throw out a bucket of boiling water when it’s ~ -30°C outside.
Click here to view all the newsletters SANAE 61 has published to this date.
Anche Louw, Antarctic Legacy of South Africa, 25 July 2022
by Ria Olivier | Jun 7, 2022 | Announcement, Marion Island, Overwintering Team, SANAP, sub-Antarctic, Team Photo
The 78th Marion Island Overwintering Team – Official Team Photo.
(L-R) Back: Rodney Phoko Matjomane (Diesel Mechanic), Danielle Conry (Field Assistant: Killer Whaler/Sealer), Frikkie van der Vyver (Field Assistant: Sealer), Charles Thomas (Base Engineer), Siwe Khoza (Radio Technician), Yinhla Shihlomule (Field Assistant: Sealer), Thando Cebekhulu (Field Assistant: O&C Seabirds), Zenande Kabase (Field Assistant: Geomorphology), Tlhoholofatso (Steve) Tebele (Assistant Meteorological Technician), DJ Van Wyk (SANSA Engineer and Science Team Leader); (middle) Sanele Mkhonza (Environmental Control Officer), Fanisa Phakula (Assistant Meteorological Technician), Isabel Micklem (Field Assistant: Seabirds), Nivek Ghazi (UKZN Astrophysics Engineer), Siyasanga Mpehle (Senior Meteorological Technician and Deputy Team Leader), Bubele Nongwejana (Medical Orderly and Team Leader), Sydney Tshilingalinga (Assistant Environmental Control Officer); (front) Eleanor Weideman (Field Assistant: Seabird Conservation).
The team departed from Cape Town, onboard the S.A. Agulhas II, on the 9th of April 2021. Three team members (Thando Cebekhulu, Yinhla Shihlomule, and Frikkie van der Vyver) of the 77th Marion overwintering team stayed behind, forming part of Marion 78. Read more here. Marion 78 arrived back in Cape Town on the 22nd of May 2022.
Click on the buttons below for more about Marion 78
Meet the Marion 78 team
M78 Team Logo
Season’s Greeting Card
Team news published on the SANAP website
Newsletters published by M78
M78 Team buff, badge and other apparel.
Team photo supplied by DJ Van Wyk (M78 SANSA Engineer and Science Team Leader).
Anche Louw, Antarctic Legacy of South Africa, 07 June 2021.
by Ria Olivier | Jun 2, 2022 | Marion Island, News, Overwintering Team, SA Agulhas II, Southern Ocean, Stations, sub-Antarctic, Team Photo
The 79th Marion Island Overwintering Team has arrived on the island 6 weeks ago. After a very busy take-over, where each team member was introduced to their new roles on the island, they are now settled in and ready for their sub-Antarctic overwintering expedition. Marion79 consist of 21 team members – check them out below.
Message from the Team Leader, Jufter Munyai:
“The Marion79 team is ready to look after the South African station on Marion Island, some will be conducting scientific fieldwork, whereas others have obligations in and around the station”.
Want to know more about the Marion Island 2022 take-over? Click here
We wish the team a successful expedition. See you back in Cape Town, in May 2023.
79th Marion Island Overwintering Team
Featured Image: Marion79 onboard the S.A. Agulhas II, about to depart to Marion Island on Sunday, 17 April 2022. Image supplied by Jufter Munyai (Team Leader).
Anche Louw, Antarctic Legacy of South Africa, 02 June 2022
by Ria Olivier | Jan 31, 2022 | Antarctica, News, Overwintering Team, SANAE, SANAP, Stations, Team Photo
The 60th South African National Antarctic Expedition (SANAE) team returned to Cape Town.
Departure to Antarctica: 25 December 2020.
Arrival in Cape Town: 29 January 2022.
SANAE 60 official team photo
ALSA's PI, Ria Olivier, was at East Pier for the arrival of the S.A. Agulhas II on Saturday, 29 January 2022. She posted arrival updates on social media throughout the day.
Click here to read the address by Mr Ashley Naidoo, Acting Deputy Director-General: Oceans and Coasts, delivered on the day of the 60th SANAE team departure to Antarctica.
Click here to read about the arrival of the S.A. Agulhas II at Penguin Bukta, Antarctica by Prof Annie Bekker of the Sound & Vibration Research Group of the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering at Stellenbosch University.
Antarctic Legacy of South Africa, 31 January 2022.
by Ria Olivier | Dec 23, 2021 | Gough Island, News, Overwintering Team, Team member, Team Photo
The South African team on Gough Island would like to wish you a happy festive season.
Spending Christmas far away from home can sometimes be a challenging time for overwintering team members, so if you would like to send a special message to the team, please email me at anchemuller@sun.ac.za or comment on the Facebook post, see below.
Send a message to the South Africans on Gough Island – Click here and comment on the Facebook Post.
67th Gough Island Overwintering Team
A new team member, Nkosi Madama (Electrician) has joined the team on the 9th of December 2021.
Read more about the team here.
Anche Louw, Antarctic Legacy of South Africa, 23 December 2021.
by Ria Olivier | Dec 22, 2021 | Marion Island, News, sub-Antarctic, Team member, Team Photo
The 78th Marion Island Overwintering team is feeling festive and wishes you a Merry Christmas.
We invite you (family, friends, previous team members, anyone that would like to get in contact and make this a special time for these overwinter personnel) to share a message, wishing this team a happy festive season. Please email me at anchemuller@sun.ac.za or comment on the Facebook post, see below.
Send a message to the South Africans on Marion Island – Click here and comment on the Facebook Post.
78th Marion Island Overwintering Team
Anche Louw, Antarctic Legacy of South Africa, 22 December 2021.
