The SA Navy, stationed in Simonstown Cape Town has had a colourful history, part of which includes a dog called Just Nuisance – who made such an impact on the lives of sailors during the Second World War, that he was enlisted into the Royal Navy. A statue of him can still be seen today on Jubilee Square.
Simonstown harbour was signed over to the SA Navy in 1957, which has since expanded with the purchase of four new patrol corvettes and three new submarines with strike craft. Mine countermeasure vessels and an auxiliary vessel with a number of smaller craft are still in service today.
The SA Navy hosts a festival in March every year in Simonstown which draws crowds exceeding 100 000 visitors over the course of the event. Activities include free access to most of the SA Navy ships to see what it is like to live and work on such a vessel, Navy band concerts and events held between the seamen themselves. The SA Navy Festival in Simonstown has become a highlight on the Cape Town entertainment calendar and shouldn’t be missed.
