abstract
Since the first South African National Antarctic Expedition (SANAE 1) in December 1959 was housed in Norway station, three new bases have been built and a fourth is in the planning stage. Facilities and logistic support for South African operations in the Antarctic have improved dramatically, especially during the last five years. Improvements include safer storage facilities for inflammable supplies, modernisation of vehicles used for ground support and improved living quarters. Significant advances have also been evident in the deployment of locally produced communications equipment. During this period the original Antarctic research and supply vessel, the RSA (launched in 1961), was replaced by the more modem SA Agulhas with enhanced transport and cargo handling facilities.
