The Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Buyelwa Sonjica, today launched the South African Weather Service’s (SAWS) new state of the art weather radar network. The radar network consists of 12 new Doppler weather radars.
The launch took place in Pretoria as part of SAWS’ celebration of 150 years of organised meteorology in South Africa. It also followed another significant yearly celebration of World Meteorological Day observed on the 23 March 2010.
Government has granted SAWS R240 million for infrastructure investment to upgrade and replace its over 30 years old radar systems to bring about a substantially improved weather observation network that meets contemporary needs.
The Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Ms Buyelwa Sonjica says:
“South Africa has a good reason for the investment rolled out in this project. We cannot afford to be left out of the scientific progress that will assist our communities in the long-term especially with the major concerns of climate change now upon us.
“We need to keep our place at the cutting edge of technology and assist our scientists to achieve the ideals of the work they have to carry out for ‘a better South Africa, a better Africa, and a better world’. Our people deserve it”.
The SAWS infrastructure network ranges from automatic weather stations, automatic rainfall stations, a sophisticated lightning detection network, computer infrastructure, satellite receiving equipment and weather radars. The new weather radars will play a vital role in enhancing adaptation tools and products such as the Severe Weather Forecast project and the flash flood guidance system that minimise loss of life and damage to property in events of severe weather.
The huge investment further demonstrates SAWS and government’s commitment to use the best technology available in the market to mitigate or avert natural disasters by evacuating threatened communities to safe areas before severe storms, associated with climate change and unpredictable weather patterns, strike.
Government also plans to enhance research capacity and improve its service delivery in this regard. With the above infrastructure developments at SAWS, the prediction of and warnings about severe weather in South Africa will become much more accurate.
A one day workshop, to share with technical stakeholders and beneficiaries on the abilities and the advances in technology acquired by the SAWS, was held earlier in the day. The project partners, SSI, SAAB security and aviation system and Gematronik presented their capabilities in environmental sciences, engineering and meteorology and their applications within the Southern African environment.
Media can access minister’s speech via the following web link:
http://www.environment.gov.za//NewsMedia/Speeches/2010Mar29/speechmin290310.pdf
For media queries contact:
Sputnik Ratau
Cell: 082 874 2942
E-mail: RatauS@dwa.gov.za
Modjadji Makoela
Tel: 012 367 6055
Cell: 084 361 6469
E-mail: Modjadji.Makoela@weathersa.co.za
Moses Rannditsheni
Tel: 012 310 3901
Cell: 082 448 2450
E-mail: MRannditsheni@deat.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs
29 March 2010
