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#westerncape

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MBirds occupying fishingboats in Agulhas during late autumn. <br> <br> Shot with a Minox 35 EL on Kodak Gold 200.<br> <br> <a href="https://pixelfed.social/discover/tags/analog?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#analog</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.social/discover/tags/shotonfilm?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#shotonfilm</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.social/discover/tags/harbour?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#harbour</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.social/discover/tags/birds?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#birds</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.social/discover/tags/southafrica?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#southafrica</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.social/discover/tags/westerncape?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#westerncape</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.social/discover/tags/photography?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#photography</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.social/discover/tags/landscape?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#landscape</a>
Richards Rambles<p><strong>Bees like Grapes</strong></p><p>Specifically hanepoot or mascadel grapes which if left long enough become incredibly sweet. We have an active bee hive and a hanepoot vine which has produced a nice crop of grapes this season so we ended up sharing our grapes with the birds and the bees.</p><p> The bees are cape honey bees indigenous to the Western Cape.</p><a href="https://lastfrog.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/IMG_0004_01.jpg" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://lastfrog.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/IMG_0002_03.jpg" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a><p>The birds that open the berries are Common or European Starlings</p><a href="https://lastfrog.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250313_0005.jpg" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a><p><a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://lastfrog.co.za/tag/birding/" target="_blank">#Birding</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://lastfrog.co.za/tag/grapes/" target="_blank">#grapes</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://lastfrog.co.za/tag/photography/" target="_blank">#Photography</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://lastfrog.co.za/tag/western-cape/" target="_blank">#WesternCape</a></p>
Paul<p>The main tour group to <a href="https://mas.to/tags/Kruger" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Kruger</span></a><br>missed out on seeing the elegant Blue Crane but I was lucky enough to see them with <a href="https://mas.to/tags/TheFynbosGuy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>TheFynbosGuy</span></a> Not an exciting video but a welcome sighting.</p><p><a href="https://mas.to/tags/BlueCrane" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>BlueCrane</span></a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/Overberg" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Overberg</span></a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/westerncape" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>westerncape</span></a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/capetown" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>capetown</span></a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/SouthAfrica" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SouthAfrica</span></a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/africa" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>africa</span></a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/birds" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>birds</span></a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/birding" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>birding</span></a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/wildlife" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>wildlife</span></a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/nature" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>nature</span></a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/birdsofmastodon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>birdsofmastodon</span></a> </p><p>Blue Crane (Anthropoides paradiseus) in the wind, Overberg, South Africa<br><a href="https://youtu.be/agDgyhcoB4A" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="">youtu.be/agDgyhcoB4A</span><span class="invisible"></span></a></p>
Richards Rambles<p><strong>Brown Hooded Kingfisher</strong></p><p>A beautiful bird that posed so nicely for us just outside McGregor in the Western Cape. The bird has a call similar to the Mouse Bird so when we are birding and hear the distinctive three note call, we are never quite certain which bird we are hearing. In this case the identification was positive. This species of kingfisher actually seems to prefer dry land rather than water. An image of a mouse bird is <a href="https://lastfrog.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/IMG_3647.jpg" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><a href="https://lastfrog.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_3586.jpg" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a><p><a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://lastfrog.co.za/tag/birding/" target="_blank">#Birding</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://lastfrog.co.za/tag/fingfisher/" target="_blank">#fingfisher</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://lastfrog.co.za/tag/photography/" target="_blank">#Photography</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://lastfrog.co.za/tag/western-cape/" target="_blank">#WesternCape</a></p>
CT Science Centre @ ORTFun session at <a href="https://codepulse.social/discover/tags/CoderDojo?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#CoderDojo</a> last Saturday! Photos are of code.org, scratch and a robot mouse, others also were doing some python and some unity3d. <a href="https://codepulse.social/discover/tags/codeclub?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#codeclub</a> <a href="https://codepulse.social/discover/tags/westerncape?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#westerncape</a>
Richards Rambles<p><strong>Stop Motion Photography</strong></p><p>I have been trying to get clouds to look good using stop motion photography. This is the first time I have gotten reasonable results. I just forgot to level the camera. Next time!</p><a href="https://lastfrog.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Clouds.gif" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a><p><a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://lastfrog.co.za/tag/cape-town/" target="_blank">#CapeTown</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://lastfrog.co.za/tag/clouds/" target="_blank">#clouds</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://lastfrog.co.za/tag/gif/" target="_blank">#gif</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://lastfrog.co.za/tag/gifs/" target="_blank">#GIFs</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://lastfrog.co.za/tag/photography/" target="_blank">#Photography</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://lastfrog.co.za/tag/stop-motion/" target="_blank">#stopMotion</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://lastfrog.co.za/tag/western-cape/" target="_blank">#WesternCape</a></p>
Richards Rambles<p>On special occasions, the Council switches on huge spot lights and lights the front face of Table mountain. Tonight is one of those nights.</p><a href="https://lastfrog.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241106_0020.jpg" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://lastfrog.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241106_0028-2.jpg" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a><p><a href="https://lastfrog.co.za/floodlit-table-mountain/" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://lastfrog.co.za/floodlit-table-mountain/</a></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://lastfrog.co.za/tag/cape-town/" target="_blank">#CapeTown</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://lastfrog.co.za/tag/mountains/" target="_blank">#Mountains</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://lastfrog.co.za/tag/nightphotograph/" target="_blank">#nightphotograph</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://lastfrog.co.za/tag/photography/" target="_blank">#Photography</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://lastfrog.co.za/tag/table-mountain/" target="_blank">#TableMountain</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://lastfrog.co.za/tag/western-cape/" target="_blank">#WesternCape</a></p>
Richards Rambles<p>Riviersonderend is a small town on the freeway between Cape Town and Gqeberha (formerly known as Port Elizabeth). The town was founded in 1922 and the architecture of some of the oldest buildings is Art Deco. The supermarket on the main road is one such building. It is not in very good state, but with a bit of judicious cropping, the beauty of the architecture stands out.</p><a href="https://lastfrog.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3006.jpg" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a><p>My house in Riviersonderend is a blend of Art Deco ship architecture and Cape Dutch architecture. The builders built according to Art Deco form, then pivoted to Cape Dutch Architecture with the small gable at the top of the square front.</p><a href="https://lastfrog.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/rsnd_complete-scaled.jpg" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a><p><a href="https://lastfrog.co.za/art-deco/" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://lastfrog.co.za/art-deco/</a></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://lastfrog.co.za/tag/architecture/" target="_blank">#Architecture</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://lastfrog.co.za/tag/riviersonderend/" target="_blank">#Riviersonderend</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://lastfrog.co.za/tag/western-cape/" target="_blank">#WesternCape</a></p>
Sailing Tropical Dawn<p>Anyone sailing around Cape of Good Hope or anywhere on the west coast of South Africa, keep e very close watch since a cargo ship lost 44 containers! <a href="https://nautical.social/tags/CapeOfGoodHope" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>CapeOfGoodHope</span></a> <a href="https://nautical.social/tags/securite" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>securite</span></a> <a href="https://nautical.social/tags/sailing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>sailing</span></a> <a href="https://nautical.social/tags/SouthAfrica" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SouthAfrica</span></a> <a href="https://nautical.social/tags/WesternCape" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WesternCape</span></a></p>
Tropical Dawn<p>Cape storms: Cargo ship loses 44 containers in rough seas<br><a href="https://www.news24.com/fin24/Economy/cape-storms-cargo-ship-lose-44-containers-in-rough-seas-20240712" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">news24.com/fin24/Economy/cape-</span><span class="invisible">storms-cargo-ship-lose-44-containers-in-rough-seas-20240712</span></a><br><a href="https://mas.to/tags/CapeStorm" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>CapeStorm</span></a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/CapeOfStorms" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>CapeOfStorms</span></a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/CapeTown" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>CapeTown</span></a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/WesternCape" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WesternCape</span></a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/SouthAfrica" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SouthAfrica</span></a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/marine" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>marine</span></a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/shipping" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>shipping</span></a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/CapeWestCoast" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>CapeWestCoast</span></a></p>
Tropical Dawn<p>Distressed cargo ship now ashore off Cape coast Efforts are concentrated on preventing pollution and salvaging cargo, says the SA Marine Safety Authority. <a href="https://www.moneyweb.co.za/news/south-africa/still-no-news-on-distressed-cargo-ship-off-the-cape-coast/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">moneyweb.co.za/news/south-afri</span><span class="invisible">ca/still-no-news-on-distressed-cargo-ship-off-the-cape-coast/</span></a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/SouthAfrica" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SouthAfrica</span></a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/WesternCape" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WesternCape</span></a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/marine" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>marine</span></a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/SAMSA" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SAMSA</span></a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/CargoShip" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>CargoShip</span></a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/shipping" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>shipping</span></a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/CapeOfStorms" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>CapeOfStorms</span></a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/CapeStorm" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>CapeStorm</span></a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/MVUltraGalaxy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MVUltraGalaxy</span></a></p>
Graham Downs<p>Stay warm today, <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/SouthAfrica" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SouthAfrica</span></a>! And if you're in the <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/WesternCape" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WesternCape</span></a>, stay safe too. Say a prayer for everyone who slept outside last night, and if you can think of any way to help them out today (even if it's a cup of coffee or a warm bowl of soup, or maybe 30 minutes of shelter)... just show some compassion, if you can. 🥶 <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/winter" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>winter</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/GoodMorning" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>GoodMorning</span></a></p>
Gerdi<a class="u-url" href="https://pixelfed.de/@FotoVorschlag@photog.social" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@FotoVorschlag@photog.social</a> <br> 'Applaus' <a href="https://pixelfed.de/discover/tags/FotoVorschlag?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#FotoVorschlag</a><br> <a href="https://pixelfed.de/discover/tags/StarligtClassics?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#StarligtClassics</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.de/discover/tags/VergelegenWineFarm?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#VergelegenWineFarm</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.de/discover/tags/SomersetWest?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#SomersetWest</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.de/discover/tags/WesternCape?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WesternCape</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.de/discover/tags/SüdAfrika?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#SüdAfrika</a><br> Starlight Classics auf der Vergelegen Wine Farm in Somerset West mit dem Kap-Philharmonikanorchester. Die Show, eine AfroSymphonische Extravaganz mit einer breiten Palette von Künstlern - alle in verschiedenen Phasen ihrer Karriere
Gerdi<a class="u-url" href="https://pixelfed.de/@FotoVorschlag@photog.social" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@FotoVorschlag@photog.social</a><br> ‘Horizont‘ <a href="https://pixelfed.de/discover/tags/FotoVorschlag?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#FotoVorschlag</a> <br> <a href="https://pixelfed.de/discover/tags/SüdAfrika?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#SüdAfrika</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.de/discover/tags/WesternCape?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WesternCape</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.de/discover/tags/CapeTown?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#CapeTown</a> <br> <a href="https://pixelfed.de/discover/tags/TableMountain?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TableMountain</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.de/discover/tags/TableBay?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TableBay</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.de/discover/tags/VictoriaAlfredWaterfront?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#VictoriaAlfredWaterfront</a>
Gerdi<a class="u-url" href="https://pixelfed.de/@FotoVorschlag@photog.social" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@FotoVorschlag@photog.social</a><br> ‘X‘ wie “X-RayDetectable“ <a href="https://pixelfed.de/discover/tags/FotoVorschlag?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#FotoVorschlag</a><br> <a href="https://pixelfed.de/discover/tags/Roentgennachweisbar?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Roentgennachweisbar</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.de/discover/tags/SA?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#SA</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.de/discover/tags/WesternCape?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WesternCape</a> <br> <a href="https://pixelfed.de/discover/tags/Inverdoorn?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Inverdoorn</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.de/discover/tags/RhinoProtect?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#RhinoProtect</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.de/discover/tags/CheetahConservation?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#CheetahConservation</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.de/discover/tags/GameReserve?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#GameReserve</a>
Graham Downs<p>Certain areas of the <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/WesternCape" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WesternCape</span></a> are having a really tough time with the terrible winds. The Hugenot tunnel is closed, as are all public schools in the Cape Winelands district.</p><p>Be safe out there!</p><p><a href="https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-04-08-fire-destroys-several-cape-town-houses-wild-sa-weather-brings-damage-and-road-closures/?utm_source=MastodonAfrica" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">dailymaverick.co.za/article/20</span><span class="invisible">24-04-08-fire-destroys-several-cape-town-houses-wild-sa-weather-brings-damage-and-road-closures/?utm_source=MastodonAfrica</span></a></p><p><a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/SouthAfrica" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SouthAfrica</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/weather" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>weather</span></a></p>
Stephan Lichtenauer | נח סתו<p>Firefighters in <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/WesternCape" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WesternCape</span></a>, <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/SouthAfrica" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SouthAfrica</span></a> </p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csJjihb4oYo&amp;t=2s" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">youtube.com/watch?v=csJjihb4oY</span><span class="invisible">o&amp;t=2s</span></a></p><p><a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/Overberg" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Overberg</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/CapeTown" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>CapeTown</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/Firefighers" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Firefighers</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/Forestfire" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Forestfire</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/Veldfire" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Veldfire</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/Bushfire" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Bushfire</span></a></p>
Stephan Lichtenauer | נח סתו<p>「Transnet personnel changes paying off </p><p>Coal export volumes railed to <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/RichardsBay" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>RichardsBay</span></a> were up more than 10% in the December quarter, and port backlogs are declining.</p><p>Then <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/PublicEnterprises" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PublicEnterprises</span></a> Minister Pravin <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/Gordhan" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Gordhan</span></a> took a meat cleaver to the board.</p><p>In came <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/MineralsCouncil" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MineralsCouncil</span></a> vice-president Andile <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/Sangqu" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Sangqu</span></a> as chair of <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/Transnet" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Transnet</span></a> in July 2023, giving a voice to the company’s largest customer, the mining sector – accounting for roughly 80% of Transnet Freight Rail’s business and 50% of overall revenue. The board was loaded with engineers, industry representatives and labour, people who knew how to run an enterprise of this complexity. </p><p>Out went <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/Derby" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Derby</span></a> and <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/Mzimela" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Mzimela</span></a>, replaced by Michelle <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/Phillips" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Phillips</span></a> as acting group CEO and Russell <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/Baatjies" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Baatjies</span></a> as acting CEO for freight rail.</p><p>Several former Transnet executives who left the organisation over the years have been lured back, including former programme director Marc Descoins.</p><p><a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/Havenga" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Havenga</span></a> says several other former top executives have been roped into the Transnet recovery plan, many of them with salaries paid by <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/BusinessSouthAfrica" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>BusinessSouthAfrica</span></a>.</p><p>Encouraging signs of progress</p><p>Writing in Moneyweb last week, Juanita Maree, CEO of the SA Association of Freight Forwarders – which sounded the alarm on Transnet a year ago – noted the encouraging signs of progress since business got involved in the <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/NLCC" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>NLCC</span></a>. The turnaround at <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/Durban" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Durban</span></a> Container Terminal Pier 2, with a recovery plan crafted and implemented by the crisis committee, will remove the vessel backlog by the end of this month.</p><p>“Cabinet’s approval and activation of the Freight Logistics Roadmap also opens the way for reviving a properly resourced, inter-modal, world-class logistics network for South Africa and the region,” says Maree.</p><p>Transnet seems to be embracing the collaboration with business:</p><p>[...]</p><p>The new management team led by Phillips and Baatjies has changed the culture and mood at Transnet, adds Havenga.</p><p>“The improvements we have seen in the last few months have all been achieved without massive investment in locomotives and wagons. These improvements are the result of operating smarter. Transnet has a rail network of about 21 000km, but virtually all of its rail revenue comes from just 1 500km of that network. That’s where we need to focus the attention.</p><p> “If we can improve turnaround times on the <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/Sishen" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Sishen</span></a>-<a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/SaldanhaBay" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SaldanhaBay</span></a> railway line so we get trains turned around in 80 hours instead of 100 hours, that means we can run an extra train a day using the same rolling stock we have. And this can be done.”</p><p>The 861km Sishen-Saldanha line between the <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/NorthernCape" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>NorthernCape</span></a> and the port of Saldanha Bay in the <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/WesternCape" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WesternCape</span></a> handles most of the country’s iron ore exports, and its efficiency has had a direct impact on the revenue and profits of <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/Kumba" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Kumba</span></a> Iron Ore and other iron ore exporters.</p><p>[...]</p><p>Perhaps Transnet has finally turned the corner and demonstrated what can be done when cadres are replaced by industry specialists. <br>」</p><p><a href="https://www.moneyweb.co.za/news/south-africa/transnet-personnel-changes-paying-off/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">moneyweb.co.za/news/south-afri</span><span class="invisible">ca/transnet-personnel-changes-paying-off/</span></a></p><p><a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/SouthAfrica" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SouthAfrica</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/GoodNews" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>GoodNews</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/StateCapture" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>StateCapture</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/Economy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Economy</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/TFR" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>TFR</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/TransnetFreightRail" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>TransnetFreightRail</span></a></p>
Drakenstein Weather<p>It is currently clear in <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/Drakenstein" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Drakenstein</span></a>, with a temperature of 40°C (Feels like 43°C).</p><p>Over the next 8 hours, the forecast is for a minimum of 26°C, with a 27% chance of precipitation.</p><p><a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/WesternCape" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WesternCape</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/SouthAfrica" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SouthAfrica</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/Weather" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Weather</span></a></p><p>* Data provided by <span class="h-card" translate="no"><a href="https://fosstodon.org/@openmeteo" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@<span>openmeteo</span></a></span></p>
Stephan Lichtenauer | נח סתו<p>「Huge uplift for Eastern Cape on way from South Africa’s R105bn green ammonia project</p><p>The building of the R105-billion <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/greenammonia" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>greenammonia</span></a> project by Hive Hydrogen South Africa is poised to be a huge economic uplift for the <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/EasternCape" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>EasternCape</span></a>.</p><p>The large project is the first phase of a multi-phase venture that will be constructed over 16 years. [...]</p><p>The front-end engineering design (FEED) process gets underway next month and tenders will invited shortly after the conclusion of that process in July.</p><p>Funding will be a combination of 70% debt and 30% equity. The final investment decision, which is expected by the end of next year, will be followed by construction and commissioning in 2028.</p><p>[...]</p><p>The building by Hive Hydrogen of 3.6 GW renewable energy capacity is scheduled to begin in early 2025. The solar power component will be built near the town of <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/DeAar" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>DeAar</span></a>, in the <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/NorthernCape" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>NorthernCape</span></a>, and wind component north and south of <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/BeaufortWest" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>BeaufortWest</span></a>, in the <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/WesternCape" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WesternCape</span></a>.</p><p>A large transmission grid strengthening programme will enable <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/HiveHydrogen" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>HiveHydrogen</span></a>’s 3.6 GW on to the grid and phases two, three and four of the project will each require additional renewable energy of a similar gigawattage. Interestingly, Hive Hydrogen’s initial 3.6 GW on to the grid will enable an additional 14.4 GW from other independent power producers.</p><p>The one-million tons of green ammonia a year that the <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/Coega" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Coega</span></a> project will produce will provide clean energy for a variety of applications, with green hydrogen and ammonia being particularly well suited to the decarbonisation of heavy industries and transportation industries.</p><p>[...]</p><p>Those in the industry will know that one of the most important things that <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/Eskom" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Eskom</span></a> is doing and plans to be operational by around 2029, is to put in two 765 kV transmission lines with about 10 GW of capacity, from <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/Gamma" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Gamma</span></a> in the Northern Cape to <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/Grassridge" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Grassridge</span></a> in the Eastern Cape.</p><p>[...]</p><p>When will 20 000 people be employed by the project [...]</p><p>There will be a large number of construction <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/jobs" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>jobs</span></a> and because this is a multi-phase project, we're hoping to time the construction jobs so that we have a full 16-year period over which we can employ the people, so that it's not a construction job just for a short period.」</p><p><a href="https://www.polity.org.za/article/huge-uplift-for-eastern-cape-on-way-from-south-africas-r105bn-green-ammonia-project-2023-12-14" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">polity.org.za/article/huge-upl</span><span class="invisible">ift-for-eastern-cape-on-way-from-south-africas-r105bn-green-ammonia-project-2023-12-14</span></a></p><p><a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/SouthAfrica" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SouthAfrica</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.africa/tags/RenewableEnergy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>RenewableEnergy</span></a></p>