The Spatial Data Infrastructure Act,
2003 was passed by Parliament in December 2003. The President assented
to the act in January 2004. The aim of the Spatial Data Infrastructure
Act, 2003 (Act No.54 of 2003) is to provide for the establishment of
the South African Spatial Data Infrastructure (SASDI) in order to
regulate the collection, management, maintenance, integration,
distribution and use of spatial/geographic information. The Act will
promote the efficient and effective use of the State's
spatial/geographic information resources by the sharing of the
information. It will give effect to the constitutional right of access
to information held by the State, as well as information held by other
persons, if the information is required for the exercise or protection
of rights.
To achieve the said objectives, the Act establishes the Committee for
Spatial Information whose function is to advise the Minister, the
Director-General or an organ of state dealing with spatial information
on any matter regarding the capture, management, maintenance,
integration, distribution and use of spatial information. In appointing
members to the Committee, the Minister will have due regard to the
Committee for Spatial Information principles contained in section 5 of
the SDI Act, the diversity of interests and the need to ensure and
promote gender, disability and other demographic representation.
Committee members will hold office for a period of three years from the
date of appointment, as may be published in the Government Gazette.
Section 4(3) of the Act gives the Minister powers to call for
nominations of persons to serve as members of the Committee. Each
organisation must nominate a primary member and an alternate member to
ensure continued participation in the activities of the CSI. Officials
appointed to serve on the committee will serve for a three-year term.
Members will be required to set a strategic direction for the
development and implementation of SASDI and to address matters to
spatial information to ensure that the maximum benefit is derived from
investments in spatial information.
Click on one of the links below for downloads:
No. 54 of 2003: Spatial Data Infrastructure Act,
2003.
Understanding the Spatial Data Infrastructure Act 54
of 2003.
Online link here