News 24 - Cape Town - Changes to the law governing weather forecasting were approved by MPs on Tuesday.
The
SA weather service amendment bill aims to make it an offence for a
person other than the statutory SA Weather Service (SAWS) to issue
warnings of severe weather.
According to the measure, the SAWS is
the "single authoritative voice" on severe weather forecasts, and
anyone who knowingly issues a false or misleading warning will face
severe penalties.
Those found guilty of contravening this
provision face a fine not exceeding R5m or imprisonment for a period not
exceeding five years.
The bill was passed by the National
Assembly, with the support of all parties in the House, and will now go
to the National Council of Provinces for concurrence.
Read more HERE.
MSBX Comment:
The
beginning of the end. SAD - SAWS now has the monopoly on on providing
weather information in South Africa. In other words it is now an offense for any
company providing weather information to obtain that info from anyone
other than SAWS? Do yourself a favor and go
and read the bill. The interpretation of the bill by authorities will
be most interesting. Note: SAWS will not be held liable/countable for
any incorrect weather information/warnings/predictions? Finally: I for one will not
share any weather information in future with anybody the least with SAWS
as a result of persecution or is it prosecution. Those found guilty of contravening this provision face a fine not
exceeding R5m or imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years. Is this the end of the
line for Mossel Bay Weather? It sure looks that way once the National Council of the Provinces accept the bill. It is a sad day
in the history of Weather in South Africa despite the increase of severe weather, global warming and climate change.
