‘Not a tornado’ says expert, after storm hits randfontein

JOHANNESBURG – A meteorologist has dismissed claims that a Tornado was the cause behind the storm that ripped through Randfontein on Wednesday.

The West Rand part of Gauteng was left to pick up the pieces after buildings, houses and cars were left damaged as the result of the storm.

The SA Weather Service have issued a yellow level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms in Gauteng.

A fierce debate on whether was it a tornado or landspout has followed after the incident. Meteoroligst from VOX Weather, Annette Botha says this was the work of a landspout.

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Vox Weather partners with iWeathar to create extensive, intelligent weather data network

  • iWeathar’s weather station fills the observational data gaps required for exceptional weather data and accuracy
  • Vox Weather’s forecasts currently have a reach of over 64 million, with nearly 350,000 followers across all social media platforms.
  • Customers can purchase an iWeathar station and join the Vox Weather network to provide situational and observational weather data on demand

 

Vox Weather, a specialist weather service led by meteorologist Annette Botha, partnered with iWeatharto provide viewers with granular weather observations that provide exceptional accuracy and insights. The Vox Weather platform – which has seen exceptional growth from 64, 000 views in its first month to 65 million in July 2024 – has developed this partnership to gain granular visibility into local weather and build communities with local companies and individuals throughout the country.

“We felt there was scope for us to invest in services that would allow us to provide better observational data that would ensure our viewers got faster, more accurate weather updates,” explains Annette Botha, a well-known meteorologist and Vox Weather presenter. “We wanted to partner with a local manufacturer to build our own private network for weather observations that would ensure our viewers always have access to incredibly reliable data. Now, anyone can own a reliable and capable weather station and provide data to the Vox Weather network and benefit from having access to their own local data and insights.”

The data provided by the weather station is set to become an invaluable commodity for dedicated viewers of the Vox Weather platform. It transforms the weather service into a private weather station network thanks to the accessibility of the iWeathar solution which provides users with the option of setting up their own weather station. The data provided by these individual stations can then be collated by Vox Weather and shared with viewers.

“We are moving into absolutely granular detail that can transform how farmers, for example, manage their environments in the event of extreme weather conditions,” says Botha. “We can, for example, talk about how a farm in the Eastern Cape had wind speeds of more than 200 kilometres per hour. Accurate data that’s personalised to the region and can help businesses and individuals stay safe, or manage their livestock.”

Russell Witthuhn from iWeathar developed the weather stations over a period of years, refining the technology and the capabilities to ensure they were not only agile and accurate, but cost-effective. A decent weather station costs upwards of R50,000 and there was a need for a solution that was less expensive, and easier to install and maintain.

The iWeathar station is light, portable and easy to install with a full sensor suite across temperature, humidity, barometer, wind speed, direction, solar radiation, rainfall and more,” he continues. “Currently, we’re developing 30-40 stations a month for different suppliers and providing hands-on support to our customers

The weather stations are Vox Weather branded, come with ongoing support, are built with local, reliable materials, and are designed to be highly efficient and resilient weather tools. Their accuracy and capability are enhanced by digital sensors, tools and systems built to withstand all types of weather. When the data from the stations is collated over time, it will then be used to predict trends and discover patterns in specific areas. This information can inform planning and agricultural management, and offer near-real-time insights that can have a significant impact on local business. For farmers, for example, it can help them to predict harvest times, compare annual changes, humidity levels, pest threats and more.

“The magic lies in the data,” concludes Botha. “The agricultural sector will feel immediate value, but these benefits will also extend to homeowners, local community vegetable gardens, commercial sites, and more. Even knowing about incoming cold fronts can help utilities plan ahead, and people manage their wellbeing. The potential and scale of these stations can reimagine how we talk about, and understand, the weather in South Africa.”

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Vox Weather grows to 100,000 followers and a reach of 37 million viewers in 18 months

In just a year and a half since it launched, Vox Weather has grown to 100,000 dedicated followers and a reach of close to two million people on average per month, validating Vox’s belief that there was a glaring gap in South Africa for a dynamic, insights- and technology-driven weather platform.

Poised for more growth and partnerships, Vox Weather has welcomed an intern to learn from renowned meteorologist and weather presenter Annette Botha. Michelle Cordier is sure to play a pivotal role in the expected rapid growth of the platform.

“It is exciting to think that in such a short time we have hit the 100,000 follower mark across the board. These are loyal followers who log in and engage with the content because they trust us and see us as a reliable source. We are averaging more than 4,000 new followers every month and the reach is outstanding,” says Botha.

Vivica CEO Jacques du Toit, who announced the launch of Vox Weather in the second half of 2021, says that now that the country has seen what a holistic platform can deliver, over and above static weather forecasts, he expects Vox Weather to play an increasingly important role in people’s lives.

“As the country grapples with severe flooding, it is evident to many people that weather is about far more than whether it will rain today or not. And so, as we push ahead with Vox Weather, we seek to continue driving credible climate awareness and activism among South Africans generally, and the youth specifically.

“When we started out, it was important to have a qualified meteorologist present forecasts, not only to ensure Vox Weather was credible but also to inspire young people to pursue a career in the STEM subjects. With this in mind, we are excited to witness how the intern Michelle blossoms and grows under the mentorship of Annette, proving that there are meteorology career paths for young people, as well as the chance to drive climate activism. Because the platform is powered through social media, it gives the team the ability to listen to its audience, which has resulted in exciting opportunities and no doubt will lead to many more,” says Du Toit.

“In the agricultural sector, this is very important, because you don’t get something more personal than someone’s livelihood. This is a sensitive sector and you don’t want to tell farmers when it is time to plant and when they should cultivate. Rather, you want to provide a bigger and fuller picture that empowers them with information to support their decision-making, and this is how our partnership with Laeveld Agrochem started – to do a weather forecast specifically for the agricultural sector. This is the first-ever agriculture-specific weather forecast in South Africa, and besides all the positive feedback from all stakeholders, the farmers are happy and that’s what counts the most.”

Botha says that following the successful partnership with Laeveld Agrochem and the rapidly growing reach of the platform, many organisations contact Vox Weather to discuss potential projects and broader climate activism. “This is important to us, as one of our initial goals was to become a credible source of weather information. In 18 months, we have gone from an idea to the voice of weather in South Africa, and we are humbled by the support,” she says.

Botha adds that as part of Vox Weather’s mission to inspire young people to pursue STEM careers, they wanted to show young people that these careers didn’t need to be in researching academic papers, but could instead be fun, vibey and in touch with people, while still, 100% anchored in science.

“This is why we held our open day. Naturally, I could see that we were on a growth trajectory and would need a more hands-on deck. However, in addition to this, we wanted to show young people that platforms such as Vox Weather provide real career opportunities,” she says.

Cordier presented at the open day, and Botha says that the effort, research and passion that went into her presentation immediately resonated with the team. “She put in so much work, her presentation was genuinely insightful and she was honest and positive. I am excited to see her stretch herself, grow and develop her own personal brand of weather forecasting and presenting.”

Cordier says that her passion for the weather was ignited by a Geography teacher at school, and stuck with her all the way through her honours degree at the University of Pretoria. “However, during Covid, we learnt that the SA Weather Service would not be doing a forecasting course the following year. Naturally, I was heartbroken and thought my career wouldn’t happen. It’s at this time that I heard about Vox Weather and the opportunity to present ideas, and as they say, the rest is history.

“I am incredibly honoured to be part of the Vox Weather team and as we grow from strength to strength. I look forward to playing my part in bringing the voice of the weather to the people of South Africa.”

Original article here

Let’s talk Vox Weather…

Let’s talk about the weather…

Doesn’t sound inspiring, but we promise it’s a lot more interesting than you think. We know, we know, the thought of the weatherman elicits feelings of Evan Almighty, or a throwback to the SABC theme music while Simon with the glasses lets you know about rainfall. True, it may be a throwback to a bygone era, but for many, the novelty is soon replaced by the quicker, more accessible app on your phone available at the click of the button. The thought of listening to a human being speak about things to come is probably as enticing as another ‘family meeting’ reminding us to mask up and get our vaccine (as if we haven’t already heard it 1000 times), while wishing the presenter had a 2x speed option.

But what if it didn’t need to be?

There were probably many who, upon hearing about the Vox Weather channel launch, thought this wasn’t the greatest idea. 50 000 followers in six months later, and we ourselves are surprised at the speed, popularity and growth of our channel – and it warms our heart (pun intended) to know that we’re not the only ones who miss the good ol’ days.

It doesn’t hurt that our key presenter (and face of Vox Weather) is no old bag of wind (again, pun intended) either, but rather the charismatic, bubbly, and lively qualified meteorologist Annette Botha. A woman who embodies the term passion, Annette combines her in-depth knowledge of the elements with experience, exuberance, and an infectious desire to make people smile, instantly captivating her audience and allowing them to immerse themselves in a truly educational experience. A brief chat with Annette is all it takes to help us understand that, in fact, there’s far more to the weather than how hot or cold it’s going to be tomorrow. Instead, there’s literal science behind the theory, which guides informed decisions capable of informing, educating, and preparing an entire nation – and this, we think, is worth the price of admission alone.

Rather than get caught up in the boring stuff, Vox Weather takes the unique approach of focusing on the human first, and the content second.

By adding a real-life, real-world presenter who, in her own words, understands her ability to spread happiness and joy across the country, we’re able to break through an automated, digitised world to give people the connection they require (after all, who does connectivity better than Vox?).

We’ve said out with the new, and in with the old-school, presenting our information in bite-sized, easy to digest daily installments; providing shareable, watchable, and presentable content to our ever-expanding audience of loyal fans. There is a twist, however. Whilst for many, watching the weather is (or used to be) a quick in-and-out, 10 minutes then done experience, we’ve managed to successfully turn it into must-watch programming. It wasn’t easy, but through a combination of consistency, delivery, accessibility, and quality, we’ve managed to hone our craft and create a series of humble, positive, and engaging content.

So, what’s on the horizon?

Well, Annette herself would probably know better than us, but our key focus at Vox Weather is diversity and expanding our reach to make the weather accessible to a wider audience. We aim to incorporate team members with fresh ideas, a different perspective and an equally infectious energy, so as to make what we do even more popular than it already is. We realise that South Africa is the only country in the world to boast 11 official languages, so our aim is to inch towards speaking to our people in a way that resonates with them. Also, if Annette gets her way, we’ll be flying into the eye of a hurricane – but hopefully one quite far away from South Africa.

Truth be told, it’s been an eventful journey full of milestones, growth and fulfilled potential – but we’ve enjoyed every minute of it. Much like the weather, one can never be too sure what the future holds, but we’re committed to expanding, engaging and doing our part to bring edutainment to everyone.

Original article here

Why Weather Matters

While there are plenty of topics to talk about at any given moment, from politics to sports to “did you see what Eskom is up to?”; one discussion trumps them all – and it’s the weather.

Sure, sometimes, “let’s talk about Weather” leads to rolled eyes or an attempt to fill an awkward silence, but for the most part, bringing it up is a surefire way to stimulate conversation (or, if you’re like us, a viable excuse to rant about how every time you wash your car it starts to rain). There’s so much to talk about when we talk Weather that we wouldn’t even know where to begin – but that might just be because it’s our industry and we’re in the know. For the most part, people comment purely on what they’re experiencing (or fearing, if there’s a wedding coming up), without truly understanding the complexity behind the concept.

However, what many don’t realise is that the Weather is actually a vital part of our entire world, way of living and existence at large.

Don’t believe us? Consider for a second the impacts of climate change and the way it’s radically affecting the world we live in. Below, we’ll look at exploring why one of the most fundamental, global hot topics (which we’ve all heard about thanks to Greta Thunberg) is so important and understand who it affects most:

  1. Humans

Let’s start with the ones who feel it the most (because we talk about it the most) – human beings. Ever noticed winter is more biting and summer is longer, hotter, and seemingly never ending? In Jhb alone, it’s been a heatwave since August – and we used to be considered cold. We feel the effects of climate change both physically and in the damage caused to our surroundings – even if it doesn’t directly impact everyone individually. For example, while most of the country could enjoy a steady stream of water throughout the year, there were many parts of Cape Town suffering through their worst drought in recent memory. Climate change affects all of us, whether we realise it or not – and we humans are the ones who can fully understand it’s impact.

  1. Animals

That being said, we aren’t the only inhabitants of mother earth. Animals across the globe are dealing with drastic changes to their natural habitats – environments which thousands of years of evolution have suited them for, making escape a very unfeasible possibility. From polar bears to whales to lions in the Sahara, drought, flooding, and fluctuating temperatures are proving devastating. By wreaking havoc on the natural order of their environments, climate change is drastically (and negatively) impacting the lives of innocent creatures everywhere.

  1. Plants

It goes without saying, but changes to the environment have a knock-on effect on their surrounding landscapes. From previously thriving ecosystems being starved of rain to the rapid melting of glaciers in both the North and South Poles (as well as the damage this flooding causes), our environment at large is radically impacted by fluctuating temperatures and its resultant effects.

From trees dying to glaciers melting, fluctuating temperatures are wreaking havoc on once stable, thriving ecosystems.

  1. People with scant resources

For us in SA, accessing fresh (or, at least sort of fresh) produce is as simple as visiting a grocery store (or ordering a delivery, if you’re that way inclined). However, there are many areas (such as Sub-Saharan Africa and the jungles of South America) where entire villages and towns rely only on what they can slaughter, grow, and harvest. The damage incurred by ever changing temperatures and its impact on numerous ecosystems can provide a challenge to many in terms of sourcing and enjoying food which may have previously been abundant.

  1. Farmers

As a farmer, you know the importance of healthy crops, good weather and regular rain. With things changing from year to year, it becomes both difficult to predict and challenging to maintain regular or healthy growth of produce, which in turn has a knock-on effect on your income, output, and supply to those who need it.

  1. Tomorrow’s generation

We may be starting to feel some effects today, but by far those who are most affected will be tomorrow’s generation, as the impacts of climate change worsen and more radically alter the world they live in. They say the wisest man is he who plants a tree knowing full well he’ll never be able to sit in its shade, which is why it’s more important now than ever to do our part to reduce our carbon footprint and, if not reverse, at least stabilise the impact we’re having on our climate to the best of our ability – if not for our sake, than for those of our children.

So, even though you may not realise it at first, we can probably agree that the weather involves far more than rain forecasts or cloudy with a chance of snooze. It’s a good thing, then, that we have esteemed industry experts leading the revolution and at the forefront of the fight to educate, empower and usher in a generation which cares about something as seemingly trivial, yet vitally important, as the weather.

Wanna know about all things Vox Weather related? Check out our social channels for daily updates here, here, here or here

Vox Weather gains traction on social as South Africans take climate education to heart

Vox Weather, an interactive weather channel with a focus on viewer education, has gained significant organic traction in the regional social media sphere, with people from South Africa and a few neighbouring countries showing a renewed interest in the weather, and in learning about climate-related topics.

Launched by Vox in August, the weather channel, which is presented by renowned and much-loved meteorologist Annette Botha, uses social media to deliver informative, educational and credible weather analysis in order to drive a broader understanding of climate change and how it affects each and every one of us.

“Vox Weather has been well-received, showing strong organic growth, and there has been an overall positive sentiment and engagement from the public toward both the weather channel, as well as the Vox brand. This is especially noticeable in the smaller cities and towns around South Africa where the company has a visible presence,” says Jacques du Toit, CEO at Vox.

Between August and September, the total number of social media followers for Vox Weather grew by nearly 60%, while content reach increased by nearly 70% and views of YouTube videos nearly doubled. The majority of the weather channel’s fans are from South Africa, though there is a sizable minority following from people living in Namibia. To cater for this audience, region specific weather forecasts will be published to Facebook, with the content only visible to users from that country.

“We are looking to drive broader education and awareness around weather warnings by featuring content that takes a closer look at what constitutes weather warnings, what might be causing the extreme weather, and what it means for people living within the affected areas in terms of the impact that it will have. In the short time since its start, the channel has already expanded to include forecasts in Afrikaans, which have seen good reach and engagement from the audience.” says Du Toit.

Open Day for meteorology students

 Vox Weather further held an open day with meteorology students from the University of Pretoria (UP) being invited to learn more about the channel and its goals, how it does things differently from other local weather channels, and to identify potential candidates for a meteorologist/climatologist internship position in 2022. The students were given the opportunity to present their ideas on how to reignite the public’s interest in the weather and climate, how specialised weather forecasts can be of value to multiple industries, and how they would improve Vox Weather.

“Annette makes the weather more personal and has some fun – she’s adding something more  than just reading a forecast, and that attracts people. For a telecommunications company to start a weather channel shows us that there are more career possibilities for us to consider than what we initially  believed. It is an amazing initiative as it gives us young scientists the opportunity to grow and do what we love,” says Michelle Fourie, currently doing her Honours in Meteorology at UP.

“What I enjoyed about the open day was coming to a place that was really innovative, and looking at new and different ways of presenting the weather to people. The more we talk about the weather in a language that they can understand, the easier it will be to get them to take a more active interest in the weather, and climate change. Vox Weather aligns with my future goals of making weather more relatable, and taking it from where it is now into the 21st century,” adds Nontsikelelo Maduna, currently doing her B.Sc at UP.

“In a lot of instances, ordinary South Africans feel they don’t fully understand the weather. We have to make the weather more personal and relevant to people’s lives in order to drive interest. The channel excites people as they want to be part of this journey of growth. What excites me is that we are willing to change, and try something different from what they have done all these years,” says Abigail, currently completing an internship at the South African Weather Service.

Vox Weather meteorologist Annette Botha to inspire a new generation of female scientists

To the backdrop of increasingly severe weather events around the world, including the protracted drought in the Eastern Cape, a United Nations special climate change report which coincided with South Africa’s Women’s Day says we have caused immense harm to our planet but that we have a small window to avert a nightmare scenario. Vox Weather Meteorologist Annette Botha says Vox Weather, which hopes to inspire girls and young women to pursue careers in science, was launched to provide a credible platform to educate about climate change and encourage behaviour change to try to turn the tide.

Botha says the platform’s mandate is to bring credible and trustworthy science about the weather and climate to South Africans. “We have a significant role to play in reaching a broader audience and inspiring interest in science.

“This is a golden opportunity to find new ways to tell complex stories and trigger important conversations, especially around changes in our environment and how it affects every one of us, and what we can and should do about it,” she says.

Botha says the world, and South Africa in particular is blessed with women scientists who are making incredible contributions to our advancement in an array of fields, including climatology and meteorology. “In some ways, their work is ‘lost’ in the world of science, living in research papers and peer-reviewed journals. It is right that their work is there, driving our scientific understanding forward, but we have a fantastic opportunity to bring their passion to the public to trigger change and inspire people,” she says.

“This is precisely why I chose Vox Weather – a platform that uses the best technology to tell complex stories in innovative and engaging ways, with a strong social media and online presence, so that we reach people on all their devices,” says Botha.

Reflecting on her career path, Botha says it is important that children and their parents understand that science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects are multifaceted and open a host of career opportunities. She says young people need to be encouraged to explore what these opportunities entail.

“As a little girl growing up on the highveld I was enthralled by thunderstorms. I would watch the build-up of clouds and the lightning and be swept up in the majestic energy – metaphorically, of course! I’d lie awake at night and listen to the wind and thunder and rain. This is passion,” she says.

It was her support network and being exposed to new possibilities that allowed her to discover meteorology, which opened the door to her career. She says: “It so happened that my orientation was towards research and mathematics and so I was encouraged to continue along this road by a supportive family network.

“My undergraduate Degree was a BSC in mathematics. It was only at university that I was exposed to meteorology, which I took as an extra subject. What happens when aptitude meets passion? A love affair. It led to an Honours Degree in meteorology, and eventually along a path to where I am today. Vox Weather aims to play a role here, exposing more young people to the nuances of the weather and climate, and educating them about how it affects all of us, and how our behaviour has a bearing on our collective futures.”

Botha adds that a lack of education is one of the biggest risks to our planet and its climate and that Vox Weather’s focus on education has given her an opportunity to educate about her passion. “We live in an era where it is possible to publish and share opinions that can have a profound effect on other people and so we need to ensure that we inspire young people and influencers to place a priority on education first and foremost,” she says.

“This is important as we find ways to communicate the importance of addressing serious challenges such as the planet’s climate. One of the biggest risks to our environment is the absence of knowledge – and certainly a gap Vox Weather wishes to help fill with trustworthy, science-backed information presented in an engaging and understandable manner.”

Vox Weather: A Throwback to an In-person Experience

Take a look around – pretty much everything is automated.

Banking? Use the app. Talking to your wife? Send a text. Finding a life partner? Swipe right and pray you’re not being catfished. Need to find out why you’re coughing? Ask Web MD.

We used to rely on people for information. Everything from sporting events to “operator, how may I help you” to your general TV enquiries were all done by actual human beings. Nowadays, it’s click, swipe or scroll and you’re good to go. Which, if we’re honest, kind of makes us miss the old days.

Which brings us to Vox Weather.

Remember the days of sitting down at 6pm to prepare for the week ahead? Of listening to the guy on SABC warn us of a cold front with jokes dryer than the Karoo? Or even getting dressed mid-winter, clothes on your bar heater, watching the screen indicate the highs and lows to come? We remember those 7am drives promising the start of spring and, of course, being enthralled as a youngster amazed by the seismic graphs.

Looking at your phone’s home screen just isn’t the same, is it?

Make no mistake, the age of automation has its benefits. It’s always easier to select a cheeseburger on Mr D than explain to the lady through crackly signal that you don’t want gherkins (seriously, who does?). However, there are times and events that require a human touch – and we believe that the personal, face-to-face experience of finding your forecast is a lost art which we at Vox aim to revive.

Don’t take our word for it though – here’s what our CEO himself has to say.

“Understanding the weather goes beyond knowing whether to pack an umbrella – it is vitally important for people, both young and old, to develop a holistic understanding of broader trends and how our actions are affecting the health of our planet. Vox has invested in bringing top-tier credible forecasts back to the public domain, driven by a desire to inspire consciousness and activism around climate change and protecting the planet”.

Look, we get it, if we were on a first date and someone started talking about the Weather, we’d be out of there faster than you could say “partly cloudy”. That’s why we aren’t sticking a bunch of colours on a green screen and telling you it’s going to rain. Instead, we’ve committed to creating engaging content with a host that embodies industry knowledge in meteorologist Annette Botha. As an extension of our Vox brand and embodiment of our commitment to employing best-in-class, credible ambassadors, Annette combines knowledge, passion, experience (she comes from eNCA) and an overall sense of awesomeness.

The sad reality is that as time passes, what used to be staples our childhood begin fading away.

The concept of weather, learning about our planet, caring about the environment and understanding forces of nature are rapidly dying out. Kids these days are entertained by TikTok, sportsmen, superheroes, and Peppa Pig, yet the earth as a whole is sadly losing the limelight.

We aim to rectify this by making the concept of Weather must-see programming, combining information with education to hopefully reignite a passion for what’s fast becoming a lost interest. That being said, we won’t just stop at weather, but rather factor in sporting events, tracking on Google Earth, providing insights, and using real-time Data to make informed predictions.

We aim to show the world that technology can be used to great effect, especially when done right, and that no matter the season, there’s never a reason to not be informed. In the midst of cold fronts, climate change and an emotionless, bland way to plan your week’s wardrobe, our ray of sunshine is the silver lining in everyone’s cloud.

To stay tuned, you can catch Annette here, follow us on Facebook here, or join us on the Twitterverse here.

Oh, and don’t forget – no matter the weather, we’re in this together 😊.

Vox Weather poised to deliver credible and trustworthy forecasts while educating on climate change

Vox launches weather channel with much-loved meteorologist, Annette Botha

To the backdrop of increasing adverse weather events and a global movement to deal with the climate crisis, Vox has announced it is launching Vox Weather, a state-of-the-art interactive weather channel with a focus on viewer education, to be presented by renowned meteorologist Annette Botha.

Understanding the weather goes beyond knowing whether to pack an umbrella, says Vox CEO Jacques du Toit. “It is vitally important for people, both young and old, to develop a holistic understanding of broader trends and how our actions are affecting the health of our planet,” he says. He says Vox has invested in bringing top-tier credible forecasts back to the public domain, driven by a desire to inspire consciousness and activism around climate change and protecting the planet.

Du Toit says that unfortunately, mainstream weather broadcasts have regressed to static representations which add little value and have left South Africans in a meteorological drought. “Apps can only step into this void partly, but they are unable to provide a thoughtful and methodical overview of the intersection between science and the weather.

“Our research has indicated a pressing need for informative, educational and credible weather analysis and we believe that by providing this to South Africans we can drive broader understanding and acknowledgement of climate change and how it affects every one of us,” he says.

As important as the science and technology used to deliver weather reports, says Du Toit, is having a qualified meteorologist present forecasts. Du Toit says that working with Botha boosts the credibility of what’s being presented with her depth of knowledge, but beyond this, he says that Vox recognises her passion for educating and inspiring positive behaviour to deal with climate change.

Botha, who completed her honours degree in Meteorology in 2014, is a former broadcasting meteorologist and presenter for ENCA. Her strength includes interpreting data to generate contextual forecasts and predictions, underpinned by a deep passion to inform and educate the public.

“If we can inspire young people to take an active interest in our regional weather and the forces shaping these changes, we would have gone a long way towards arresting the damage we are inflicting on our only planet,” he says.

Botha agrees, adding that she’s ecstatic that Vox has found a trusted model for bringing high-quality weather analysis to the public. “I am thrilled to be presenting the weather again, supported by the best quality tools to bring relatable and informative graphics and information to the public,” she says.

Du Toit says that by pioneering the most cost-effective production in the country, and by prioritising the immediacy and reach of social media, Vox intends bringing educational content to as many people as possible, in as relevant a time as possible, on the devices where they want to consume their media. In addition to this, Vox Weather will zone in on relevant topics of interest every month, adding context and depth to the public’s understanding of topics related to the weather and planet.

“There is a wealth of data available, and we wish to bring insights from this data through the expertise of Annette, to bring value to the wider community – from sportspeople to the general public to those with a vested interest in renewable energy, among much more. This is a wonderful opportunity to educate viewers with relevant, quality information,” he says.

In addition to this, Vox will work with partners ahead of and during important sporting events to deliver detailed forecasts and drive awareness of the importance of quality and trustworthy weather data and insights. This will include exciting sports such as golf, outdoor running and cycling stage events and kite surfing, among others. The technical capabilities will allow for overlaying the track or area of the event on Google Earth and then animating the weather expectations over the course of the event. “The team will be able to build highly specific and relevant insights for each event, to help for planning for the athletes and supporters,” says Du Toit.

“Ultimately,” says Du Toit, “We aim to use skilled resources and credible data sources to make weather reporting services credible again so that we can inspire a love and appreciation for our beautiful planet.”

Vox Weather goes live on 1 September and you can find all the information here www.voxweather.co.za

Vox article here

Gauteng | Regional Climate of South Africa

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Region Climatic properties Locality Vegetation Agricultural activity
Central Bushveld (north of Gauteng) Somewhat wetter (500 – 750 mm p.a.) and somewhat cooler than the Northern Bushveld. Frost occurs more often. Parts of Gauteng, North-West and Northern Province. Tree species include African Beechwood Faurea saligna, Acacia, Buffalo Thorn Ziziphus mucronata. Shrublayer is moderately developed with e.g. Sandpaper Raisin Grewia flavescens, Peeling Plane Ochna pulchra and Blue Guarri Euclea crispa. Grasslayer well developed with e.g. Wire Grass Elionurus muticus, Turf Grass Ischaemum afrum, Fingergrass Digitaria eriantha and Common Russet Grass Loudetia simplex Ecotourism, cattle and game farming, wheat, maize, sunflowers.
Moist Highveld Grassland (south of Gauteng) Precipitation, ranges from 600 – 800 mm p.a. and has its maximum during Dec and Jan. Frost occurs regularly during the winter months and ranges, from available data, from about 30 days in the Mpumalanga area to about 70 days in the southern Free State. Winds are highly variable but easterly and westerly winds are more prevalent. Closer to the mountain ranges the incidence of frost is probably even higher. Over the higher lying areas snow is not an unusual event. Parts of Gauteng and Mpumalanga southwards into eastern and southeastern Free State. Grass species include Redgrass Themeda triandra, Three-awn Rolling Grass Aristida bipartita, Fan Lovegrass Eragrostis plana, Broom Needlegrass Triraphis andropogonoides, Bushveld Turpentinegrass Cymbopogon plurinodis. Forbs include Fishbean Tephrosia semiglabra, Wild Petunia Ipomoea obscura, and Bladderweed Hibiscus trionum. Some dense woody thickets e.g. Oldwood Leucosidea sericea occur in places in the north. Maize, Cattle and sheep, crop production, dairy farming, ecotourism.