Weather law hampers progress

Last month, a proposed amendment to the SA Weather Service Act caused an outcry. It is symptomatic of anti-innovation regulation, however.

An amendment to the SA Weather Services Act caused an uproar last month, as penalties of up to ten years in prison or a R10 million fine were for the first time prescribed for anyone who issues ‘severe weather-related warnings’ or ‘air quality-related
warnings’ without the written permission of the SA Weather Service (SAWS).

Although the original act already contemplated these actions as an offence, the original provisions escaped the public’s notice at the time, but the extraordinary severity of the new penalties caused an outcry.

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