T H E N E L S O N M A N D E L A Y E A R S : S O U T H A F R I C A N W E AT H E R S E RV I C E
“Little did we know that a Noble Man was about to emerge, a Visionary Leader that would be known by generations to come.”
Linda Makuleni Chief Executive Officer South African Weather Service Private Bag x097 Pretoria 0001 Dear Madiba
What was the weather like? The South African Weather Service Board and staff extend their warm wishes! We would like to take you down memory lane in remembering what the weather was like in some of your most eventful days of the 90 years you have lived!
DR Linda Makuleni CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
In March 1918, the Springfontein Dam in Beaufort-West burst its banks, after 200mm of rain fell in 12 hours. A day later heavy rains over the Eastern Cape caused flooding of the Great-Fish River, in the Cradock region. Little did we know that a Noble Man was about to emerge, a Visionary Leader that would be known by generations to come. When you were born, at Mveso village on 18 July 1918, the closest recording station was Mthatha, which at that time only measured temperature and rainfall. It was a very cold day, with the mercury rising from a low of 4°C to a maximum of 8°C. Let us salute Noqhaphi Nosekeni who beared the birth pains that have presented us with a Father of Nations. On 18 and 19 June 1964, six days after you were sentenced to life imprisonment, the heaviest snowfalls in 30 years were recorded in Pretoria. For 27 years we were frozen in anguish yet filled with subtle hope. On 11 February, 1990 the day of your release, strong gale force south-easterly winds lashed the Cape Peninsula. Widespread damage occurred, trees were uprooted. It was a day that brought light and new beginnings. July 18, 2008 Nelson Mandela turned 90 years! In QUNU, the morning was cold starting at 6°C, warming up slightly during the day reaching a maximum of 21°C with light northerly wind and sunny conditions but no rain. What a wonderful day!
CONTACT DETAILS Physical address: 442 Rigel Avenue, Erasmusrand 0181 Postal address: Private Bag x097, Pretoria 0001 Telephone: (+27 12) 367 6000
For the last 149 years South African Weather Service continued to employ advanced technology to predict weather and climate to safeguard life and property. In paying tribute to you Tata, we will continue embracing the leading role in the SADC region and participate on equal footing at international level, observing the planet for a better future for all. MADIBA, YEMYEM, VELA BAMBENTSELE, NGQOLOMSILA, WE SALUTE YOU!
Linda Makuleni Chief Executive Officer
S O U T H A F R I C A N W E A T H E R S E RV I C E T I M E L I N E
1880
1949
1969
1994
2001
2006
South Africa becomes one of the first countries in the world to establish a national weather service
South African Weather Bureau is officially named as a directorate in the Department of Transport
First Super Computer for Numerical Weather Prediction is installed
The Government of South Africa resumes full membership in the World Meteorological Organisation
The South African Weather Service is established as a public entity residing under the Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
A Lighting Detection Network, one of three in the southern hemisphere, is launched; it can detect both flash and stroke data across the entire network
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2008 Severe Weather Forecasting for southern African countries becomes operational
2009 Climate databank is 149 years old
12/1/08 11:42:18 AM