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HUGE Achievement – RNM and UGU Strike in Port Shepstone

RNM and UGU Strike HUGE Achievement - STRIKE in SHEPstone

HUGE Achievement – RNM and UGU Strike in Port Shepstone

RNM and UGU Strike in Port Shepstone: The Ray Nkonyeni Municipality (RNM) workers have been protesting due to delays in receiving backpay and demands to be moved from grade 4 to grade 5. The protests have been ongoing, with workers throwing refuse bags on the streets and marching to various locations in Port Shepstone. The instability caused by these protests has significantly affected service delivery in the area.

UGU Involvement:

The UGU District Municipality has been involved in discussions with striking workers who have threatened to shut off the municipality’s entire water supply. This involvement highlights the broader impact of the strike on essential services in the region.

Power Outage:

The power outage in Port Shepstone, which lasted for more than 48 hours, is believed to be connected to the ongoing protests by RNM workers. The outage affected the Port Shepstone CBD and surrounding areas. Repairs were delayed due to the intimidation of electricians, and materials needed for repairs had to be sourced from outside the area. The Port Shepstone Business Forum intervened to help resolve the labour and electricity crisis, aiming to restore power and provide security to substations.

Why do we have two municipalities?

Well, I asked Bing AI, who seems to be spewing out government rhetoric…

Ray Nkonyeni Municipality (RNM): RNM is a local municipality that handles day-to-day services like waste management, local roads, and community facilities. It covers areas like Margate and Port Shepstone and focuses on the specific needs of these communities.

Ugu District Municipality: Ugu District Municipality oversees several local municipalities, including RNM. It manages larger-scale services that span multiple areas, such as water supply and regional planning. Ugu ensures that resources are shared efficiently across the district.

The Reason for Two Municipalities: Having both RNM and Ugu allows for better organization and efficiency. RNM can focus on local issues, while Ugu handles broader services that benefit multiple communities. This setup helps address both local and regional needs effectively.

“What utter bullshit!” – Me.

Over to me…

RNM and UGU HUGE ACHIEVEMENT – VIVA ANC!

These okes took the power down! And now they are threatening to turn the water off! To the whole town of Port Shepstone! And surrounds!

This is UGU and RNM. Between management and staff, they are arguing about who gets the money. The staff want the money. The management want the money. It’s all about money. New bakkies. New buildings. Grandiose projects that cost millions and go nowhere and amount to nothing. And pay increases…

And these demands, this internal squabbling…this gives them the collective right, to cut power? And threaten the same with water?

This won’t be forgotten very quickly. People are alarmed and angry. After the huge con of load shedding, taking our power again, and threatening to take our water – well, there just has to be a prosecutor somewhere built for this behaviour?

Or is there?

We are busy catching up on content here at The Sardine News. And we will make sure we are part of a solar network whenever working in South Africa, in the future.

For the power will go out again. And maybe even the water…

Happy Holidays from UGU and RNM!

Sardines and Sighting Maps

It has been a fantastic sardine run this memorable 2024. And all the action has been logged right here on The Sardine News. This year’s map has been viewed 195,000 times and just keeps growing.

Which led us to decide to keep the map live. And keep adding unique marine animal sightings and events. That occurs non-stop all year round. This year we started to log more whale and dolphin sightings. And we even had a shipwreck! And a freaking tornado! And recently a capsized KZNSB boat! We have been updating the map with recent catches too…

These events will from now on be included in the Sardine News Sightings Map for 2024. And on the 1 January 2025, we shall start all over again.

Here are the links to existing and past Sardine Sighting Maps. Great for a windy day like today to research. With instructions to install The Sardine News right on your phone or desktop.

2024 Sardine Map

2023 Sardine Map

2022 Sardine Map

2021 Sardine Map

Channels

Brucifire Surf Retorts – highly entertaining  surf reporting

Master Watermen – news from way down deep

The Sardine News – neva miss a single  sardine

FishBazaruto – 1000 pounds plus

MYDO Tackle Talk – highly technical  sport fishing

Surf Launching Southern Africa – getting out there safely

Water Woes – complain about your municipality here

Websites

umzimkulu.co.za – self-catering right on the Umzimkulu River
umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za –  will get you right out and onto the edge
thesardine.co.za – never miss a single sardine
masterwatermen.co.za – news from under water
fishbazaruto.com – dreams
brucifire.co.za – surf retorts

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Dream Kayak Catch, Dorado on the Rocks and Full Conditions Update #kzn #ocean #conditions

Martin DeJager South Coast KZN Dream Kayak Catch

Dream Kayak Catch, Dorado on the Rocks and Full Conditions Update

Dream Kayak Catch, Dorado on the Rocks and Full Conditions Updates: What another day! What a week. Everyone is smiling, even and especially the divers. As they pull some magic out of the bag yesterday and today. Amazing catches and underwater experiences. We gonna have to wait for The Bear to deliver his action-packed Master Watermen Friday Report tomorrow at around 4pm.

Enjoy today’s AM Roundup…

Dream Kayak Catch

Martin deJager made the BOMB of a catch off his kayak on the KZN South Coast day before yesterday. Aside from the first couta of the season caught on the KZN south coast, Martin also bagged a bus GT. Looks over the 20kg mark to me from this angle.

But that’s not all…!

Check at all the dorado lying on the floor! Plus an angry looking skipjack tuna (call it what you like). What a dream catch for anyone.

Dream Kayak Catch by Martin DeJager Bomb.
Dream Kayak Catch by Martin DeJager Bomb.

Dorado on the Rocks

Should read dorado off the rocks this morning at the Margate Pier. Tom caught one on a live shad earlier. And then a little later on a top bung bait, Koos got one too! A monster of a fight, koos lasted a full 90 minutes before someone went down and grabbed the fish for him.

Synoptic Analysis

Looks good for the next few days. A cold front with a slightly more serious face is aiming for Cape Town. To be there in about three or four days and then us later next week.

But for right now, and for this weekend, if you can get out there, go for it!

And we never even said shad once!

Sardines and Sighting Maps

It has been a fantastic sardine run this memorable 2024. And all the action has been logged right here on The Sardine News. This year’s map has been viewed 195,000 times and just keeps growing.

Which led us to decide to keep the map live. And keep adding unique marine animal sightings and events. That occurs non-stop all year round. This year we started to log more whale and dolphin sightings. And we even had a shipwreck! And a freaking tornado! And recently a capsized KZNSB boat! We have been updating the map with recent catches too…

These events will from now on be included in the Sardine News Sightings Map for 2024. And on the 1 January 2025, we shall start all over again.

Here are the links to existing and past Sardine Sighting Maps. Great for a windy day like today to research. With instructions to install The Sardine News right on your phone or desktop.

2024 Sardine Map

2023 Sardine Map

2022 Sardine Map

2021 Sardine Map

Channels

Brucifire Surf Retorts – highly entertaining  surf reporting

Master Watermen – news from way down deep

The Sardine News – neva miss a single  sardine

FishBazaruto – 1000 pounds plus

MYDO Tackle Talk – highly technical  sport fishing

Surf Launching Southern Africa – getting out there safely

Water Woes – complain about your municipality here

Websites

umzimkulu.co.za – self-catering right on the Umzimkulu River
umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za –  will get you right out and onto the edge
thesardine.co.za – never miss a single sardine
masterwatermen.co.za – news from under water
fishbazaruto.com – dreams
brucifire.co.za – surf retorts

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Freshly Minted Perfect Ocean Report by The Bear 3 Dec 2024

Umhlanga Summer Sunrise 3 December 2024 HUD

Freshly Minted Perfect Ocean Report by The Bear 3 Dec 2024

Freshly Minted Perfect Ocean Report by The Bear 3 Dec 2024: The Bear fires up our daily collection of reports and news items. Starting from the beach down the KZN South Coast, with this viz report and overall look at the perfect sea today.

Make use of the daily data set presented as a heads-up display on each and every report.

Thanks, Bear!

Umhlanga

A sneak peak at early Umhlanga this morning…

Conditions Update by Sean Lange

Good times ahead!

Tuesday Afternoon Dive Report

The Bear checks in AGAIN this unforgettable Tuesday…

Sardines and Sighting Maps

It has been a fantastic sardine run this memorable 2024. And all the action has been logged right here on The Sardine News. This year’s map has been viewed 195,000 times and just keeps growing.

Which led us to decide to keep the map live. And keep adding unique marine animal sightings and events. That occurs non-stop all year round. This year we started to log more whale and dolphin sightings. And we even had a shipwreck! And a freaking tornado! And recently a capsized KZNSB boat! We have been updating the map with recent catches too…

These events will from now on be included in the Sardine News Sightings Map for 2024. And on the 1 January 2025, we shall start all over again.

Here are the links to existing and past Sardine Sighting Maps. Great for a windy day like today to research. With instructions to install The Sardine News right on your phone or desktop.

2024 Sardine Map

2023 Sardine Map

2022 Sardine Map

2021 Sardine Map

Channels

Brucifire Surf Retorts – highly entertaining  surf reporting

Master Watermen – news from way down deep

The Sardine News – neva miss a single  sardine

FishBazaruto – 1000 pounds plus

MYDO Tackle Talk – highly technical  sport fishing

Surf Launching Southern Africa – getting out there safely

Water Woes – complain about your municipality here

Websites

umzimkulu.co.za – self-catering right on the Umzimkulu River
umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za –  will get you right out and onto the edge
thesardine.co.za – never miss a single sardine
masterwatermen.co.za – news from under water
fishbazaruto.com – dreams
brucifire.co.za – surf retorts

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Weather Forecasting: The Battle of the Models

Weather Forecasting Models Choice by The Sardine News

Weather Forecasting: The Battle of the Models

Weather forecasting has become a sophisticated science, thanks to advanced weather models. However, the accuracy of these models can vary, leading to different forecasts from services like Windguru, Windy, the South African Weather Service (SAWS), and Tides 4 Fishing.

Choose your Weather Forecasting Model Carefully

Windguru: Windguru is popular among wind sports enthusiasts for its detailed wind forecasts. It uses models like the Global Forecast System (GFS), Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF), and the High-Resolution Limited Area Model (HIRLAM). While these models provide valuable data, their predictions can sometimes differ, causing confusion for users.

Windy: Windy offers a visually appealing platform with multiple weather models, including the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), GFS, ICON, and NAM. The ability to switch between models is useful, but it also highlights the discrepancies between them. Users often find themselves comparing forecasts to get a more accurate picture.

South African Weather Service (SAWS): SAWS relies on the Unified Model, developed with the UK Met Office. This model provides high-resolution forecasts for Southern Africa. Despite its sophistication, the Unified Model’s predictions can still vary from other models, leading to different weather outlooks.

But like ANY ANC-led government service, this is today’s screen…

Not a very good weather forecasting model at all
Not a very good weather forecasting model at all

And so I got the synoptic chart image from Kobus Botha’s Weather Photos page. An absolutely brilliant piece of portal work gathering all kinds of weather imagery and chart data,

Click Kobus Botha Weather to get to his epic page of information.

Tides 4 Fishinhttps://tides4fishing.comg: Tides 4 Fishing combines tidal data with weather forecasts from models like GFS and ECMWF. While this blend is useful for anglers, the varying predictions from different models can make it challenging to plan fishing trips accurately.

The Synoptic Chart Advantage: Given the inconsistencies between weather models, a good old synoptic chart can often be more reliable, especially when combined with local knowledge and experience. Synoptic charts provide a broad overview of weather systems, helping to identify patterns and trends that models might miss. Local knowledge adds another layer of accuracy, as residents understand the nuances of their region’s weather.

This is NOT from SAWS. This is from Kobus Botha Weather – a fantastic site to gain your own perspectives and insights.

In conclusion, while advanced weather models offer valuable insights, they can produce different forecasts, leading to uncertainty. A synoptic chart, mixed with local expertise, remains a powerful tool for accurate weather prediction.

Weather Forecasting Models

  1. Global Forecast System (GFS): Developed by the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) in the United States, GFS is a widely used global weather model that provides forecasts up to two weeks in advance.
  2. European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF): Known for its high accuracy, ECMWF provides detailed medium-range forecasts up to two weeks ahead and is renowned for its ensemble prediction system.
  3. ICON (Icosahedral Nonhydrostatic): Developed by the German Weather Service (DWD), ICON is a global model that offers high-resolution forecasts and is used for both weather and climate predictions.
  4. UK Met Office Unified Model (UKMO): This model provides high-resolution forecasts for the UK and surrounding regions and is known for its accuracy in predicting severe weather events.
  5. High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR): A short-term, high-resolution model used primarily in the United States for predicting severe weather events.
  6. North American Mesoscale (NAM): A regional model that provides short-range forecasts for North America, focusing on severe weather and mesoscale phenomena.
  7. Global Environmental Multiscale Model (GEM): Developed by Environment Canada, GEM provides high-resolution forecasts for Canada and the surrounding regions.
  8. ARPEGE: A global model developed by Météo-France, ARPEGE provides medium-range forecasts and is known for its high-resolution output.

Ocean Forecasting Models

  1. HYCOM (Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model): Used by the U.S. Navy, HYCOM provides global ocean forecasts and is known for its high-resolution and accurate predictions.
  2. NEMO (Nucleus for European Modelling of the Ocean): A widely used ocean model that provides forecasts for various regions, including the Arctic and North Atlantic.
  3. OceanMAPS: Developed by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, this model provides high-resolution ocean forecasts for the Australian region.
  4. ECCO (Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean): A global ocean data assimilation system that provides high-resolution ocean forecasts and reanalyses.
  5. BRAN (Bluelink Reanalysis): An ocean model developed by the Australian Government, providing high-resolution forecasts for the Australian region.
  6. FOAM (Forecasting Ocean Assimilation Model): Developed by the UK Met Office, FOAM provides high-resolution ocean forecasts for the North Atlantic, Indian Ocean, and Mediterranean.

These models are crucial for accurate weather and ocean forecasting, helping us plan our activities, prepare for severe weather events, and understand the dynamics of our planet. While each model has its strengths, combining their outputs with local knowledge and experience can provide the most reliable forecasts.

: Meteosource : Meteologix : National Weather Service : Ocean Predict : Ocean Predict

www.meteosource.com
www.weather.gov
meteologix.com
oceanpredict.org

What you really have to watch out for, however, is that people are 10 to 100 times more inclined to click on a weather warning than a normal post. So as an advertising medium that earns money from clicks, it would be tempting to say the least, not to post any good news. To choose the model that suits your sinister cash driven motivations. Keep them coming back by posting bad weather news.

This has been happening and has been wreaking havoc with travel bookings worldwide.

Everybody out to make a buck!

Sardines and Sighting Maps

It has been a fantastic sardine run this memorable 2024. And all the action has been logged right here on The Sardine News. This year’s map has been viewed 195,000 times and just keeps growing.

Which led us to decide to keep the map live. And keep adding unique marine animal sightings and events. That occurs non-stop all year round. This year we started to log more whale and dolphin sightings. And we even had a shipwreck! And a freaking tornado! And recently a capsized KZNSB boat! We have been updating the map with recent catches too…

These events will from now on be included in the Sardine News Sightings Map for 2024. And on the 1 January 2025, we shall start all over again.

Here are the links to existing and past Sardine Sighting Maps. Great for a windy day like today to research. With instructions to install The Sardine News right on your phone or desktop.

2024 Sardine Map

2023 Sardine Map

2022 Sardine Map

2021 Sardine Map

Channels

Brucifire Surf Retorts – highly entertaining  surf reporting

Master Watermen – news from way down deep

The Sardine News – neva miss a single  sardine

FishBazaruto – 1000 pounds plus

MYDO Tackle Talk – highly technical  sport fishing

Surf Launching Southern Africa – getting out there safely

Water Woes – complain about your municipality here

Websites

umzimkulu.co.za – self-catering right on the Umzimkulu River
umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za –  will get you right out and onto the edge
thesardine.co.za – never miss a single sardine
masterwatermen.co.za – news from under water
fishbazaruto.com – dreams
brucifire.co.za – surf retorts

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And The Shad Have Gone Mad again in KZN 2 December 2024

Mad Shad in KZN 2 December 2024

And The Shad Have Gone Mad again in KZN 2 December 2024

And The Shad Have Gone Mad again in KZN 2 December 2024: Sugar pocket size! These are big shad coming out at a few spots in KZN at the moment. Luckily they waited until now to start biting. Now that the shad season is officially open, that is.

Shad Kit

If you are looking to kit out for the shad in KZN this season, Township Hyper in Durban have all the goods. And at prices that make any visit worthwhile. You can take a peek at some items on their Facebook Page. But most real deals are in-store and on a strictly limited first-come-first-served basis.

Heading south…

Garrick in Margate

Margate Pier is still hosting visiting garrick. Although they are most certainly on their way south by now, you gonna get those tail-enders. Mainly though, the water is still quite clean.

Kob

Kob don’t mind the brown water at all. These guys, along with the shad, will be staple target species through December.

Umhlanga in the Morning

Umhlanga this very morning…

Synoptic Analysis

Well, we look fine for now but that little gathering of low-pressure systems hovering over the south-Atlantic should pique everyone’s interest. There is also a concentration of lows over the land and to the east. This is the kind of stuff you need to keep your eye on. This is a very interesting set of variables on their way.

Surfing

Waves for the weekend hopefully, no guarantees. Maybe tomorrow?

Diving

Very quiet under the water. A bit foggy for the spearos.

And finally…cool launch at Umhlanga yesterday…

Sardines and Sighting Maps

It has been a fantastic sardine run this memorable 2024. And all the action has been logged right here on The Sardine News. This year’s map has been viewed 195,000 times and just keeps growing.

Which led us to decide to keep the map live. And keep adding unique marine animal sightings and events. That occurs non-stop all year round. This year we started to log more whale and dolphin sightings. And we even had a shipwreck! And a freaking tornado! And recently a capsized KZNSB boat! We have been updating the map with recent catches too…

These events will from now on be included in the Sardine News Sightings Map for 2024. And on the 1 January 2025, we shall start all over again.

Here are the links to existing and past Sardine Sighting Maps. Great for a windy day like today to research. With instructions to install The Sardine News right on your phone or desktop.

2024 Sardine Map

2023 Sardine Map

2022 Sardine Map

2021 Sardine Map

Channels

Brucifire Surf Retorts – highly entertaining  surf reporting

Master Watermen – news from way down deep

The Sardine News – neva miss a single  sardine

FishBazaruto – 1000 pounds plus

MYDO Tackle Talk – highly technical  sport fishing

Surf Launching Southern Africa – getting out there safely

Water Woes – complain about your municipality here

Websites

umzimkulu.co.za – self-catering right on the Umzimkulu River
umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za –  will get you right out and onto the edge
thesardine.co.za – never miss a single sardine
masterwatermen.co.za – news from under water
fishbazaruto.com – dreams
brucifire.co.za – surf retorts

Share