Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Draft Bill

The Department of Transport has published the draft Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Bill and is asking you to comment.

The Bill seeks to:
• provide for the establishment of the South African Search and Rescue Organization;
• provide for the composition, membership, powers, functions of SASARO;
• provide for the powers, functions, and appointment of members to the Executive Committee of SASARO;
• provide for the powers and functions of the Management Committee;
• provide for a National SAR Plan;
• provide for the functions and duties of the Aeronautical and Maritime Subcommittees;
• provide for the meetings of Committees of SASARO;
• provide for personnel to perform certain functions connected with search and rescue services;
• provide for designation of search and rescue regions;
• provide for the establishment and functions of rescue coordination centres and rescue subcentres;
• provide for the requisitioning of aircraft and vessels to assist in search and rescue operation;
• provide for the recovery of certain expenses;
• provide for search and rescue actions regarding aircraft and vessels;
• provide for registration of emergency beacons;
• provide for filing of disaster management and aerodrome emergency plans;
• provide for reporting of aircraft and vessel in distress;
• repeal the South African Maritime and Aeronautical Search and Rescue Act;
• incorporate the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, 1979, into South African law;
• give the Minister the power to make regulations; and to provide for matters connected therewith.

Comments can be emailed to Mr Terrence Mabuela at [email protected] or [email protected] by no later than Sunday, 20 October 2024 at 12h00.

Enquiries can be directed to Mr Terrence Mabuela on tel (012) 309 3070