South Africa set to overhaul Disaster Management System

Posted: 25 February 2025

South Africa is overhauling its disaster management system to address various legislative and administrative shortcomings, says South African Local Government Association (SALGA) Deputy President, Cllr Xola Pakati.

Speaking at the opening of the two-day Local Government Disaster Management Indaba at the Radisson Hotel & Convention Centre, Johannesburg, O.R. Tambo Airport, Cllr Pakati said SALGA has invested significant resources in recent years to lobby the government for this overhaul. This follows an assessment conducted during the 2020/2021 financial year to evaluate municipalities' capacity to perform disaster management functions.

The hybrid Indaba, themed "Consolidating a Local Government Perspective Towards a Disaster-Resilient South Africa", brings together leaders and experts in disaster and risk management, climate change specialists, representatives from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), non-profit organisations, as well as national, provincial, and municipal representatives.

The Indaba aims to consolidate local government perspectives on the ongoing review of the country's disaster management system and address pressing issues affecting the sector.

Addressing over 200 delegates, Cllr Pakati said South Africa's current disaster management system continues to be tested by increasingly frequent extreme weather events.

"The arrival of the rainy season quickly translates into widespread flooding across the country, with each year bringing more severe impacts on vulnerable communities. While disaster management professionals work tirelessly to mitigate risks and respond effectively, lives remain lost, critical infrastructure is damaged, and services are disrupted. Restoring normalcy and rehabilitating infrastructure remains challenging due to the significant social and economic implications. The burden on the national fiscus is also becoming unsustainable in the long run," said Cllr Pakati.

SALGA Chief Executive Officer, Sithole Mbanga, raised concerns about the lack of reliable disaster management data, calling it a wake-up call for the country. He noted that only disasters receiving extensive media coverage tend to get the necessary attention and cautioned that this reactive approach does not support proactive disaster management.

The Indaba has provided a platform for international experts to share insights, including lessons from Brazil's disaster management experiences, particularly the impact of extreme weather conditions in Rio Grande do Sul. The National Disaster Management Centre delivered a comprehensive review of South Africa's disaster management system, while SALGA presented its proposal for the system's overhaul, incorporating lessons from Malawi and Brazil. The presentation illuminated the importance of effective early warning systems, risk reduction, and resilience-building.

The Indaba will continue on Wednesday, 26 February 2025, featuring discussions on response and recovery, CSIR's Advanced Fire Information System (AFIS), disaster risk reduction in informal settlements in eThekwini, and the use of drones, artificial intelligence (AI), and geographic information systems (GIS) in disaster risk management.
 
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