Ms Lebogang Makgati

Ms Lebogang Makgati
Senior Manager, Marine: SA Weather Services

CNA 1

Marine Studies

Harnessing Technology and IKS for Sustainable Ocean Observation and Coastal Resilience

Ms Lebogang Makgati is a highly experienced meteorologist with a distinguished career spanning over 15 years in the fields of marine, aviation, and public weather forecasting. Her expertise lies in operational meteorology, scientific research, and strategic leadership in the marine sector. She currently holds the position of Senior Manager: Marine Services at the South African Weather Service (SAWS). In her current role, Ms Makgati is responsible for overseeing a wide portfolio of national marine meteorological services.

These include marine weather forecasting and warnings across South African coastal waters and coastal communities, the provision of Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) services for the METAREA VII region, and the coordination of marine observations over the Southern Oceans and remote islands such as Marion Island, Gough Island, and Antarctica. She also leads the Marine Research and Development programme, which focuses on enhancing the accuracy and reliability of forecasting systems to support operational decision-making.

Ms Makgati is a PhD candidate in Oceans and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Cape Town (UCT), under the academic supervision of Professor Christopher Reason and Dr Mary-Jane Bopape. Her doctoral research critically evaluates the performance of the Conformal-Cubic Atmospheric Model (CCAM) in forecasting high-impact, landfalling tropical cyclones over Mozambique, and their extended effects on eastern Southern Africa.

The goal of her study is to contribute to the improvement of forecasting models used in operational environments, thereby enhancing early warning systems, model reliability, and the protection of vulnerable communities. Her passion for meteorology is driven by a desire to ensure that communities, emergency services, and decision-makers receive accurate and timely weather information. She firmly believes that effective early warning systems play a critical role in saving lives and protecting livelihoods, particularly in the context of increasing weather extremes due to climate change.