1. SOUTH AFRICAN RADIO LEAGUE
AMATEUR RADIO
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION NETWORK
H A M N E T
PRESENTER - FRANCOIS BOTHA
NATIONAL DIRECTOR

2. BRIEF OUTLINE SARL founder member of IARU - 1925.
IARU stipulated each country establish an emergency network – when all else fails!
HAMNET established mid 1960’s.
Represented on various bodies including SASAR.
ORRU – MCSA – K9 dog Unit – NSRI.
Internationally, Amateur Radio is regarded as a national resource.

3. RECENT HISTORY Apies River Flood Laingsburg Flood
Free State Floods (many)
Westdene Bus Disaster
Cyclone Demoina
‘Oceanos’ sinking
Van Reenen Pass Snow
Orange/Vaal river Floods (many)
Many other incidents
Communications for many sporting events

4. WEATHER INFORMATION Most disasters are weather related.
Weather data critical to operations.
Many reliable sources available – both locally (SAWS) and international.
Weather enthusiasts own sites accurate and very reliable – including radio amateurs.
Internet dozens of accurate sites

5. LOCAL INTERNET WEATHER FACILITIES
Johan Terblance – ZS1I
Prof. Kobus Botha – ZS6KOB
INFORMATIVE – RELIABLE – EASILY ACCESSIBLE AND
UPDATED AT LEAST 4 TO SIX TIMES EVERY HOUR!

6. SOUTHERN CAPE FLOODS – DECEMBER 2007
SOUTHERN CAPE FLOODS – DECEMBER CUT-OFF LOW THAT MOVED OVER REGION.

7. ACCESS NOW DENIED TO GENERAL PUBLIC

8. OUR CONCERNS Access to SAWS Website already restricted!
Informing our colleagues of adverse weather may now become illegal!
Our sources are impeccable!
Our conduct is professional!
Being denied the right to support our community would be a tragedy!
Being denied the right to dissect international data would be a disaster.

9. CONCLUSION
Access denial, discussion and open publication can breed more miss-information.
Disallowing other sources and enthusiasts is counter productive!
Creating a monopoly is not in the interest of our country!
Restricting freedom of information – disastrous!
Sharing information would be more productive!
7 Days ago – Limpopo flooding – amateur information more accurate than SAWS – website restriction!

10. CONTACT DETAILS
By – alternative
P.O. Box 555, WELOBIE. 1714
Landline
Cell Phone (24/7)
Visit our website at and follow the link to HAMNET.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION.