RUSTENBURG HERALD - RUSTENBURG - Most people who have made this "little" town among the foothills of the Magaliesberg their home for many years, will immediately tell you that winter is not their favourite time of the year and that Rustenburg's "mild" temperatures suit them just fine.
Though this might be the truth, there are others who dread the Platinum City's scorching temperatures between November and February of each year.
As always however, by now we know that Charlie Graham's meticulous notes and archives on all affairs concerning the Rustenburg climate and rainfall, usually have the last say. Charlie Graham will be remembered as the man who transformed Geelhout Gardens Nursery in Kremetart Avenue to something really spectacular and a man who is infinitely close to Mother Nature. After almost unprecedented rainfall since late last year, many people correctly predicted that the winter of 2025 would be a tough one with a fearsome bite. Needless to say, these people were correct and judged by the difference in temperatures between the winter of 2024 and 2025, it is interesting to note that while we in the southern hemisphere are struggling with the coldest winter in decades, people in the northern hemisphere are fighting to stay alive during one of the worst heat waves in human memory.
But let us return to Rustenburg's winter temperatures.
Concerning the coldest temperatures of 2024 the following is interesting:
Coldest night temperatures during June 2024:
# -0.2 °C (5 June 2024)
# -0.1°C (11 June 2024);
# 0.0 °C (4 June 2024).
On the other side of the coin - the hottest day temperatures during June 2024 were:
# 24.9°C (1 June 2024)
# 24.7°C (6 June 2024)
# 24.4°C (19 June 2024)
The statistics of this year's winter show us that indeed the winter of 2025 is considerably colder that the previous year. Though the coldest night temperatures of June 2025 have crept into the minus zeros only twice, it seems to have done so with considerable ease:
Coldest night temperatures during June 2025:
# -0.9°C (28 June 2025)
# -0.4°C (29 June 2025)
# 1.2°C (30 June 2025)
While the hottest daily temperatures of June 2024 exceeded 24°C on at least four occasions (see above) June 2025 has managed to reach 24°C only once, notably on 20 June 2025, which shows that although perhaps only marginally, the winter of 2025 can definitely be considered a colder one than it's predecessor.
Hottest day temperatures during June 2025:
# 24°C (20 June 2025)
# 23.8°C (4 June 2025)
# 23.0°C (18 June 2025)
# 23.0°C (23 June 2025)
It is furthermore interesting to note that the highest daily temperatures during June 2024 dropped to below 20°C no less than 10 times, the winter of June 2025 produced a surprising number of 12 days with temperatures not only below 20°C but well below 20°C - notably the lower 17s repeatedly. In conclusion - the coldest daytime temperature during June 2024 was the 15.9°C recorded on 4 June 2024 with the hottest daytime temperature of June 2025 that of 14.5°C recorded on 27 June 2025. Rustenburg Herald wishes to thank Charlie Graham for his valuable statistics provided for our regular weather reports.
