SALGA urges immediate action to strengthen disaster management amid climate crisis
In the wake of increasing climate-related disasters that have devastated communities across South Africa, the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) is calling for urgent national action to modernise the disaster management framework. With municipalities acting as the first line of defence against these escalating incidents, SALGA argues that significant reinforcement is necessary to equip local governments with the tools and resources required to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.
The recent wildfires in the Eastern Cape not only ravaged property and biodiversity, but also threatened the livelihoods of many residents. Meanwhile, the flooding in parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga has disrupted essential services, displacing families and leading to the loss of more than 30 lives as of January 17. Expressing his condolences to the bereaved families, SALGA’s Chairperson of Emergency Services and Disaster Management Working Group, Mluleki Nkosi, highlighted the alarming frequency and intensity of such events and the inadequacies of the existing disaster management system.
“These events highlight the rapidly increasing frequency and intensity of climate-related disasters and expose the limitations of the current disaster management system,” Nkosi stated. Despite a Cabinet directive in 2022 to urgently review the Disaster Management System, progress remains slow, leaving municipalities overwhelmed with outdated mechanisms for handling floods, storms, droughts, and wildfires.
According to SALGA, current legislation mandates municipalities to co-ordinate local stakeholders and carry out contingency planning. However, most municipalities are hampered by a lack of capacity and resources, rendering them unable to act on early warnings effectively. SALGA urges local authorities to step up, despite facing severe constraints. Municipalities are encouraged to activate Joint Operating Committees promptly and communicate timely information to communities upon receiving alerts from the South African Weather Services.