NEWS
Rainfall: Dry, drier, driest? No, just average
G
iven last year's muchdiscussed drought
(though Gauteng
experienced an absolutely
average year as far as rainfall
was concerned), it would be
expected, perhaps, to report
that the relatively dry
conditions experienced in
Gauteng (on the East Rand, at
the time of writing ~ the
second half of September)
since the start of Spring herald
yet another year of low
rainfall.
Looking back at the figures for
rainfall in September since
the start of the new millennium one simply cannot draw
that conclusion.
To the middle of September
this year we recorded 10mm
of rainfall, admittedly over
one 24 hour period.
However, there have been
five years in the 16 years
since 2000 when there was
absolutely no rain in
September at all, a further
two years with less than
10mm in September and a
further two with only 1011mm.
This means, statistically, that
10mm (and perhaps a little
more by the end of the
month) is actually above
average for all the Septembers
since 2000.
Whether normal, or above
average rainfall patterns
develop in the remaining
months to the end of the year
remains to be seen, and
depends on the development
of a La Nina effect, something
that weather scientists are still
being less-than-enthusiastic
about.
carriageway from Siyabuswa
to Moloto.
The cost is expected to be
upwards of R35 billion.
However, there is no business
case for the rail link. Transport
economist Andrew Marsay
says the number of people
living along the corridor is too
small to sustain a commuter
railway line.
The corridor is used only by
40 000 commuters a day,
while a rail line needs
100 000 commuters a day to
be sustainable, he says.
"There is no business case of
any kind for a railway
alongside Moloto Road. It is
only sustainable for people to
live there and travel the long
MOLOTO LINE
From page 6
stations, 117km of standard
gauge dual track (the same
gauge as the Gautrain and
wider than the rest of the
southern African Cape gauge
rail network), modal integration points, 240km of road
feeder routes, integration with
the Tshwane Bus Rapid Transit
system and a new 67km dual
8
www.sasmallholder.co.za
Continued on page 10