RSA 30: ACHIEVEMENTS 1961–1991

South Africa, Bloemfontein · 1991-05-30

Official

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Cachet: RSA 30 with background of the country behind.

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**RSA 30: PRESTASIES 1961–1991** Gedurende die afgelope dertig jaar het Suid-Afrika op talle terreine merkwaardige prestasies behaal. **25c — Eerste hartoorplanting** In die vroeë oggendure van 3 Desember 1967 is 'n menslike hart die eerste keer ter wêreld suksesvol oorgeplant tydens 'n operasie in die Groote Schuur-hospitaal in Kaapstad. Die hart van 'n 25-jarige vrou, mej. Denise Ann Darvall, is deur dr. Christiaan Neethling Barnard en die Groote Schuur-hartspan in 'n 53-jarige man, Louis Washkansky, oorgeplant. Mnr. Washkansky het na die operasie nog agtien dae geleef. Chris Barnard, toe slegs vier en veertig jaar oud, was reeds een van Suid-Afrika se mees ervare hartchirurge. Jare van nougesette voorbereiding, voortreflike mediese bekwaamheid en spanwerk van die hoogste gehalte het die sukses van hierdie baanbrekeroperasie verseker. Sedertdien is talle hartoorplantings in Suid-Afrika en in baie ander dele van die wêreld gedoen. **40c — Matimba-kragstasie: Direkte droëkoelstelsel** Die Matimba-kragstasie naby Ellisras in Noordwes-Transvaal is op 16 November 1989 amptelik geopen. Matimba — die Tswana-woord vir krag — is ontwerp om 4 000 MW te ontwikkel. Dit is die grootste steenkool- en droëkoelkragstasie ter wêreld. Aangesien daar heelwat steenkool maar min water in dié omgewing is, het die elektrisiteitsvoorsieningsmaatskappy, Eskom, besluit om die direkte droëkoeltegniek te gebruik. Die hele droëkoelinstallasie is in Suid-Afrika vervaardig. Die opwekking van elektrisiteit vereis gewoonlik enorme hoeveelhede water — hoofsaaklik vir verkoeling. Eskom se pionierswerk met droëkoeleenhede het waterverbruik van 10 liter per kilowatt-uur elektrisiteit in 1970 tot die huidige 2,02 liter verminder. Dit is 'n besparing van 79,8 persent. Suid-Afrika produseer meer as 60 persent van Afrika se elektrisiteit. **50c — Western Deep Levels-myn: Die diepste ter wêreld** Suid-Afrika is 'n wêreldleier op die gebied van ultradiep-mynbou. Die Western Deep Levels-goudmyn hou die rekord vir die diepste indringing in die aarde deur die mens — die diepte van 3 777 meter is op 12 Julie 1977 bereik. Die rotstemperatuur op dié diepte is 55 °C of 131 °F. Die gekombineerde kennis en vaardigheid van geoloë, ingenieurs, tegnoloë, navorsers en beplanners word voortdurend ingespan teen die gedugte rotsversperrings en die gevaar van oorstromings. Werk op sulke dieptes moet twee groot probleme te bowe kom — die ongelooflike hoë rotstemperature en die uitwerking van aardskokke. Hoewel daar toenemend gemeganiseer word, bly die menslike faktor deurslaggewend t.o.v. die ontwerp en gebruik van ingewikkelde masjinerie sowel as die ontwerp en beplanning van werkplekke diep onder die oppervlak waar mens en masjien hul werk moet verrig. Navorsers worstel met probleme wat van steeds groter belang word namate myne dieper as vier kilometer die aarde in begin boor. Dit is nie net die mynindustrie in Suid-Afrika wat by hierdie navorsing sal baat nie, maar uiteindelik ook dié regoor die wêreld. **60c — Dolos: Die golwe getem** Waar daar nie 'n natuurlike stuk beskermde water is nie, word versperrings teen die aanslag van die oopseebranders opgerig sodat 'n skip veilig deur die nou grense van 'n rivier- of hawe-ingang kan vaar. In 1963 het die hawe-ingenieur van Oos-Londen, mnr. Eric Merrifield, 'n belangrike bydrae tot die beskerming van die Suid-Afrikaanse kuslyn gelewer. Hy het 'n uiters doelmatige agtkantige betonblok ontwerp wat soos 'n dubbele anker gevorm is en wat goeie afgeronde weerstand teen die krag van die golwe bied en wat goeie grendeling verskaf. Hy het sy uitvinding die *Dolos* genoem vanweë die effense ooreenkoms in vorm met dié skenkelbeentjie. Benewens die vermoë om die golwe te tem, het die dolos die verdere voordeel dat dit op die werksterrein gemaak en met 'n hyskraan in posisie geplaas kan word. Die proporsies van die dolos verseker voldoende meganiese sterkte en staalwapening is dus nie nodig nie. In Suid-Afrika word dolosse nie net vir beskerming teen die see gebruik nie maar ook by die bou van damme. Die dolos het internasionale erkenning verwerf en word tans wêreldwyd met groot welslae gebruik. Eric Merrifield het nie sy uitvinding gepatenteer nie omdat hy dit as sy bydrae tot die verbetering van die mens se bestaan en tot die ingenieurswetenskap beskou. **RSA 30: ACHIEVEMENTS 1961–1991** During the past thirty years South Africa attained remarkable achievements in many fields. **25c — First Heart Transplant** The world's first successful human heart transplant operation was performed at Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, in the early hours of 3 December 1967. The heart of a 25-year-old woman, Miss Denise Ann Darvall, was transplanted into a 53-year-old man, Louis Washkansky, by Dr Christiaan Neethling Barnard and the Groote Schuur heart-team. Mr Washkansky lived for eighteen days after the operation. Only forty-four years old at the time, Chris Barnard was already one of South Africa's most experienced cardiac surgeons. Years of meticulous preparation, great medical efficiency and teamwork of the highest standard ensured the success of this pioneering operation. Since then numerous heart transplants have been performed in South Africa and in many parts of the world. **40c — Matimba Power Station: Direct dry-cooling system** On 16 November 1989 the Matimba power station near Ellisras in the North-Western Transvaal was officially opened. Matimba — the Tswana word for power — is designed to generate 4 000 MW. It is the biggest coal-fuelled and dry-cooled power station in the world. Since there are considerable coal deposits in the area but little water, the electricity supply company, Eskom, decided to use the direct dry-cooling technique. The complete dry-cooling installation was manufactured in South Africa. The generation of electricity usually requires immense quantities of water — mostly for cooling. Pioneering work by Eskom on dry-cooling units lowered water consumption from 10 litres per kilowatt-hour electricity in 1970 to the present 2,02 litres. This constitutes a saving of 79,8 per cent. South Africa produces more than 60 per cent of Africa's electricity. **50c — Western Deep Levels Mine: The world's deepest** South Africa is a world leader in the field of ultradeep mining. The Western Deep Levels gold mine holds the record for the greatest penetration into the earth by man — the depth of 3 777 metres was attained on 12 July 1977. The virgin rock temperature at this depth is 55 °C or 131 °F. The combined knowledge and skills of geologists, engineers, technologists, researchers and planners are constantly pitted against the formidable barriers of rock and the hazards of flood waters. Operations at such depths have two major problems to overcome — the incredibly high rock temperatures and the forces of seismic activity. Although there is increasing mechanisation, the human element remains paramount, designing and operating the complex machinery and, also, designing and planning the sites far below the surface where men and machines must work. Researchers are grappling with problems which take on added significance as mines are beginning to bore more than four kilometres into the earth. The mining industry, not only in South Africa, but also all over the world, will ultimately benefit from this research. **60c — Dolos: Taming the waves** Where no natural area of protected water exists, barriers are constructed against the open sea wave force to enable a ship to navigate the narrow confines of a river or harbour entrance with safety. A major contribution to the protection of the South African coastline was developed by the East London harbour engineer, Mr Eric Merrifield, in 1963. He designed a highly effective double anchor-shaped, octagonal concrete block which provides good rounded opposition to wave energy and good interlocking. He named his invention the *Dolos*, the Afrikaans name for a sheep's knuckle, because of a faint resemblance in shape. Besides the ability to tame the waves, the dolos has the further advantage that it can be made on site and be dropped into place with a crane. The proportions of the dolos ensure adequate mechanical strength, and therefore steel reinforcement is unnecessary. In South Africa dolosse are used not only as protection against the sea, but also in dam-building. The dolos attained international recognition and today it is used all over the world with great success. Eric Merrifield did not patent his invention because he regarded it as his contribution towards the improvement of human life and the engineering science.

Additional information

This First Day Cover (FDC 5.14) was issued by the South African Post Office on 30 May 1991, cancelled at Bloemfontein, to mark the 30th anniversary of the Republic of South Africa (1961–1991). The cover carries a set of four stamps, designed by A.H. Barrett, illustrating notable South African achievements from that thirty-year span: the 25c stamp depicts the world's first heart transplant, performed by Dr Christiaan Barnard in 1967; the 40c stamp shows the Matimba Power Station's direct dry-cooling system; the 50c stamp portrays the dolos, Eric Merrifield's wave-breaking concrete invention; and the 60c stamp commemorates the Western Deep Levels gold mine, the world's deepest mine, noting its record 3,8 km penetration into the earth. The cover's design features a stylised map of South Africa rendered in the national flag's colours, with a bold "RSA 30" logo, marking the anniversary in a graphic, celebratory style rather than a purely commemorative one. Together with the accompanying bilingual insert cards, this cover forms a complete package summarising South Africa's most publicised scientific, industrial, and engineering milestones of the preceding three decades.

Condition: FineGood condition. Minor wear or small imperfections, but overall well-presented.

Addressed: No

Signed: No

SAPO serial number: 5.14

Estimated value: ~US$0.1

This is a high-level, subjective estimate only, not a professional appraisal.