MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Chief Petty Officer Dudley Malgas has had the responsibility of firing the noon day gun at the Lion Battery on Signal Hill in Cape Town for the last 20 years.

Officer Malgas grew up in Mossel Bay. He will be firing his last round tomorrow, Saturday 31 August, when he will be retiring from service in the South African Navy. 

There are two guns which are fired on alternate days, but both are loaded each day with gun powder so that if one does not fire, the other is manually triggered.

This is to ensure the firing takes place like clockwork every day, with no misfires.

A loud bang reverberates over the Signal Hill area each day, barring Sundays and public holidays, at 12:00. Also, there are various safeguards and checks in place to ensure the cannons fire at 12:00 on the dot.

CPO Malgas has acted as an ambassador in this role, interacting with many tourists from all over the world, who visit Signal Hill.

Now, on retiring from the navy, after dealing with tourists and tour operators constantly, he says he would like to begin a career in tourism.

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