Government has appealed to the public to be more vigilant, and not react to rumours that may lead to mayhem. This in the wake of a 'warning` sent via SMS and e-mail about Gauteng being in the path of a tornado.
In its weekly statement, issued after yesterday`s meeting, Cabinet said its meeting "reflected on the scare stories and rumours that were distributed... about an alleged tornado that was about to hit parts of Gauteng on Monday, despite assurances from the SA Weather Service that, although there was a severe storm on the way, there was no tornado or anything of that sort that was about to happen".
The Cabinet statement said as a result of the rumours, some employers sent their staff home early, which resulted in panic and led to traffic congestions in many parts of Johannesburg and Pretoria.
Government also advised employers and the media to check with the relevant authorities before sending out messages that could cause unnecessary panic, and that the SA Weather Service is the most reliable and primary source of information regarding the weather.
In the light of these developments, Cabinet decided the National Disaster Management Centre will be asked to look at ways in which such situations could be managed better in future, with a view to making sure that clear communication guidelines and procedures are developed and communicated to the public.
The only structures that have the authority to issue warnings to the public are the SA Weather Service and the National Disaster Management Centre.
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