South African Weather Service Act, 2001 (Act No. 8 of 2001)

Chapter 2 : South African Weather Service

Purchase

(1)	The Weather Service must—

(a)	provide such meteorological services, including public good services and commercial services, as are necessary to achieve its objectives, provided that it is in the interests of the Weather Service and the State;

(aA)	provide such ambient air quality information services as is necessary to achieve the objectives of the Air Quality Act;

[Paragraph (aA) inserted by section 4(a) of Act No. 48 of 2013]

(aB)	collect ambient air quality data over the Republic of South Africa;

[Paragraph (aB) inserted by section 4(a) of Act No. 48 of 2013]

(aC)	act as the custodian of the SAAQIS;

[Paragraph (aC) inserted by section 4(a) of Act No. 48 of 2013]

(aD)	manage, operate, maintain and develop NAAQMN;

[Paragraph (aD) inserted by section 4(a) of Act No. 48 of 2013]

(b)	adhere to the intent of Resolution 40 of the Twelfth Congress of the World Meteorological Organization, and any other related resolutions regarding the internationally free and unrestricted exchange of meteorologically-related data and products; and

(c)	perform any other function assigned to it by the Minister.

(2)	The Weather Service may, in order to achieve its objectives—

(a)	co-operate or enter into agreements or contracts with any person, institution, government or administration;

(b)	purchase or otherwise acquire, possess, hire, pledge, sell or let property;

(c)	with the approval of the Minister, granted with the concurrence of the Minister of Finance, raise money by way of loans from any lawful source, on such terms and conditions and against such security as may be agreed upon;

(d)	with the approval of the Minister, establish or assist in establishing companies for the promotion of meteorological services or any related business purpose;

(e)	charge fees for the provision of any commercial services;

(f)	enter into an agreement with any other weather service to deliver services or be of assistance with the delivery of services outside the borders of South Africa; and

(g)	enter into agreements with State departments for the delivery of services considered to be within the capacity of the Weather Service. These contract services are not deemed part of the public good services.

(3)	Only the Weather Service may issue severe weather-related warnings over South Africa in order to ensure that there is a single authoritative voice in this regard.

(4)	The Weather Service must take reasonable steps to develop skills and capacity of the Weather Service so as to enable it to provide for the needs of disadvantaged communities.

(5)	The Weather Service may issue ambient air quality forecasts.

[Subsection (5) inserted by section 4(b) of Act No. 48 of 2013]

(6)	The Weather Service may issue ambient air quality warnings.

[Subsection (6) inserted by section 4(b) of Act No. 48 of 2013]

(7)	Before issuing ambient air quality warnings the Weather Service must—

(a)	inform the Minister;

(b)	provide the Minister with all relevant information pertaining to the ambient air quality warning; and

(c)	afford the Minister a reasonable opportunity to consult with relevant Ministers or any other stakeholder whose area of responsibility may be affected by the ambient air quality warning.

[Subsection (7) inserted by section 4(b) of Act No. 48 of 2013]