Page 10 - Environmental Affairs

SAWS praised for Cyclone

Eloise advanced warnings

By Tshegofatso Ndhlovu and Zibuse Ndlovu

he Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Minister Creecy said that SAWS will during the next
Environment, Ms Barbara Creecy has praised few years, increase its efforts to improve its ageing
the South African Weather Service (SAWS) for the infrastructure while bringing on board more experts
Tsterling work done in tracking the unusual path of to ensure an excellent service. “The South African
Cyclone Eloise. Minister Creecy was speaking during a Weather Service will continue to grow its pool of highly
webinar held on 23 March 2021 to celebrate the World qualified scientists, weather technologists and other
Meteorological Day. human resources to ensure that we maintain our
scientific excellence and competitive edge to face
“Early this year, I had the opportunity to experience
first-hand the important work our Weather Service plays environmental challenges while also adhering to various
frameworks, national and international priorities,” said
in mitigating the impacts of severe weather, natural
disasters and climate-related challenges,” said Minister Minister Creecy.
Creecy.
Executive in Weather and Climate services at SAWS,
Dr Jonas Mphepya said that climate change has
In January, Cyclone Eloise travelled across the country
wreaking havoc from Mpumalanga to the Northern impacted the manner in which forecasts are executed.
“South Africa is surrounded by a large body of water
Cape. “For over two weeks we participated in the
National Disaster Management Committee where from two oceans, the impact of oceans on our weather
and climate is significant and with climate change
SAWS predicted disruptive rainfall and supported
provincial and municipal governments prepare for and occurring at a rapid pace, the influence on our local
and regional weather systems dictate that SAWS’
avert the worst aspects of this extreme weather event,”
said Minister Creecy. impact-based forecast needs to be of the highest
quality,” said Dr Mphepya.
Using its state of the art technology and collaborating
with other international organisations, SAWS was able to “Early this year, I had the
give accurate hour by hour information that enabled opportunity to experience first-hand
disaster management services across the country to
mobilise support services to close roads and bridges the important work our Weather
threatened by flooding, monitor dam levels, clear
debris, and search for and rescue those affected by Service plays in mitigating the
flood waters.
impacts of severe weather, natural
“Much of our success in this regard was due to the disasters and climate-related
progress SAWS has made in the 2020/21 financial year
to change to Impact-based Weather Forecasting. challenges.”
I believe that the advance warnings by SAWS as
part of its Impact-based warning services played an
important role to raise awareness among the public,
thereby ensuring that the public took the necessary
precautionary steps to be as safe as possible,” said the
Minister.

About the contributor: Tshegofatso Ndhlovu

Mr Tshegofatso Ndhlovu is an Intern in the Communications and Advocacy Chief Directorate at the Department of
Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. He holds a diploma in Journalism from The Tshwane University of Technology. He
is an avid Tennis Player who looks up to the Williams Sisters.