SA Weather Service Aviation Website Restores After Cyberattack

SA Weather Service (SAWS) aviation website is back online following a cyberattack that severely disrupted its information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure.

SAWS confirmed that it has regained access to critical aviation services, including; significant international weather charts, wind charts, flight documentation for domestic and international routes and research products and radar images

However, some domestic weather products, such as significant weather charts, atmospheric pressure charts, and airman’s reports, are still undergoing functionality tests before being restored.

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The Aviation Weather Centre at OR Tambo International Airport is still relying on alternative methods to provide aeronautical weather updates.

While SAWS’ main website has been restored, weather forecasts remain unavailable, with users only able to access severe weather warnings. These warnings automatically expire once their validity period ends.

SAWS spokesperson Oupa Segalwe said the Marine Portal and WeatherSMART app remain offline. However, the public can still access, daily rainfall & temperature updates, severe weather alerts, updates via social media & email

SAWS CEO Ishaam Abader noted that full recovery could take time, as seen with other institutions that have fallen victim to similar cyberattacks.

“It took other organisations weeks or months to fully recover. We hope to be back on our feet sooner,” Abader said.

He also disclosed that, the SAWS cyberattack is the latest in a series of attacks targeting public and private institutions over the past five years.

Last month, it was reported that SAWS systems went down following a security breach by criminal elements while a failed hacking attempt was recorded the night before the successful attack.

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According to IBM’s 2024 Cost of a Data Breach Report, the average cost of a data breach in South Africa was R53.1 million. The report also found that stolen or compromised credentials were the most common entry points for cybercriminals, accounting for 17% of all cyberattacks.

SAWS remains committed to restoring full functionality while strengthening cybersecurity to prevent future breaches.

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