In this Act, unless the context indicates otherwise—

"advisory alert"

means an alert raising awareness up to five days in advance to either expected large-scale potential disruptive weather systems that could later lead to specific watches or warnings with time, or to less urgent alerts of uncommon conditions;

[Definition inserted by section 1(b) of Act No. 48 of 2013]

"advisory services"

means any climatological advice or advice on ambient air quality, and includes advice on weather outlooks, weather forecasts, severe weather warnings, ambient air quality information services, ambient air quality forecasts and ambient air quality warnings;

[Definition amended by section 1(c) of Act No. 48 of 2013]

"Air Quality Act"

means the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act, 2004 (Act No. 39 of 2004);

[Definition inserted by section 1(d) of Act No. 48 of 2013]

"ambient air"

has the meaning assigned to it in section 1 of the Air Quality Act;

[Definition inserted by section 1(d) of Act No. 48 of 2013]

"ambient air quality forecast"

means a prediction or estimation of ambient air quality at some time in the future using air quality forecasting techniques or methodologies;

[Definition inserted by section 1(d) of Act No. 48 of 2013]

"ambient air quality information"

means information regarding ambient air quality generated by—

[Definition inserted by section 1(d) of Act No. 48 of 2013]

"ambient air quality warning"

means an alert of exceedance or forecast exceedance of ambient air quality standards established in terms of the Air Quality Act;

[Definition inserted by section 1(d) of Act No. 48 of 2013]

"Board"

means the Board contemplated in section 5;

"Chief Directorate"

means the Chief Directorate: Weather Bureau as a division of the Department as it existed immediately, before the commencement of this Act;

"Chief Executive Officer"

means the Chief Executive Officer appointed in terms of section 13(1);

[Definition amended by section 1(e) of Act No. 48 of 2013]

"commercial services"

means services specified in Schedule 2;

"Committee"

means any committee established under section 11;

"Department"

means the department responsible for the administration of this Act;

"financial year"

means a period which commences 01 April in one year and ends on 31 March in the following year;

"meteorological service"

means—

"Minister"

means the Minister responsible for the administration of this Act;

"NAAQMN"

means the National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Network that provides ambient air quality information to the SAAQIS and consists of a network of government-owned ambient air quality monitoring stations located around the country;

[Definition inserted by section 1(f) of Act No. 48 of 2013]

"national framework"

means the national framework established in terms of section 7(1) of the Air Quality Act;

[Definition inserted by section 1(f) of Act No. 48 of 2013]

"prescribe"

means prescribe by regulation;

[Definition inserted by section 1(f) of Act No. 48 of 2013]

"public good services"

means services specified in Schedule 1;

"Regulating Committee"

means the Regulating Committee contemplated in section 20;

"regulations"

means regulations made under section 28;

"SAAQIS"

means the South African Air Quality Information System, and refers to the electronic information management system established in accordance with the national framework established in terms of section 7(1) of the Air Quality Act;

[Definition inserted by section 1(g) of Act No. 48 of 2013]

"severe weather"

means an extreme meteorological event or phenomenon, which represents a real hazard to human life or property and has the potential to cause damage, serious social disruption, loss of human life, or economic loss;

[Definition inserted by section 1(g) of Act No. 48 of 2013]

"severe weather warning"

means an alert issued by the Weather Service with regard to severe weather which includes an advisory, watch or warning alert;

[Definition inserted by section 1(g) of Act No. 48 of 2013]

"specialised service"

means a meteorological service provided to an identifiable client or customer who will use the service for economic gain or benefit;

"warning alert"

means an alert calling for action due to a very high certainty of a severe weather hazard that is already occurring or imminent within 24 hours and that could lead to disruptive and disastrous conditions;

[Definition inserted by section 1(h) of Act No. 48 of 2013]

"watch alert"

means an alert calling for preparedness to weather hazards that most likely occur within one to three days and that could lead to disruptive and disastrous conditions;

[Definition inserted by section 1(h) of Act No. 48 of 2013]

"Weather Service"

means the South African Weather Service established by section 2;

"this Act"

includes the regulations.

[Section 1 amended by section 1(a) of Act No. 48 of 2013]