On Wednesday, 8 December 2010, under the auspices of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa’s only polar research and supply vessel, the SA Agulhas will leave on its 50th over-wintering expedition to Antarctica.
The Department of Environmental Affairs will host a celebration of this landmark on Wednesday at East Pier, V&A Waterfront, where the SA Agulhas berths. The official programme starts at 13h00 and the SA Agulhas will depart at 14h00. The Media is invited.
The first South African over-wintering expedition to the Antarctica left Cape Town in January 1960. South Africa is one of the original 12 countries that signed the Antarctic Treaty back in December 1959 in Washington. South Africa is still the only African member state.
From a very humble start – taking over a wooden Base from Norway, for which South Africa paid the token amount of 1 Krone, to accommodate the first South African overwintering expedition – South Africa today has a large, sophisticated and well equipped Base which is today’s SANAE - IV.
Since the Antarctic Treaty states that it is in the interest of all mankind that the Antarctic shall continue forever to be used exclusively for science and peaceful purposes, South Africa is still involved mainly for the scientific activities, but also because we see ourselves as an influential maritime nation in the Southern Oceans.
Also from a human capital point of view, the result of South Africa’s involvement in Antarctica has been profound. Every year several well-qualified post-graduate engineers and scientists receive highly specialized training and get the opportunity to get exposure to international scientific projects and to hone their skills.
For further enquiries contact:
Zolile Nqayi (Department of Environment Affairs)
Cell: 082 898 6483
Tel: 021 819 2423
E-mail: znqayi@environment.gov.za
