KZN cannot wait for the next big natural disaster before it decides to take disaster management seriously. Everything possible must be done to prepare ahead of time.
The DA in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has called for urgent improvements – including additional resources and more advanced technology – at the province’s Disaster Management Centre (DMC) in Mkondeni.
The appeal comes after an oversight inspection conducted by KZN’s CoGTA portfolio committee earlier this month, which has revealed serious shortcomings.
Increasingly severe weather patterns and the damage that they cause across our province requires a sharp and a comprehensive response. Regrettably, KZN’s DMC is currently unable to provide such.
KZN requires an early warning system that alerts residents of potential disaster, damaged roads and bridges, fallen trees and anticipated storms in their particular areas, so that they can take the necessary precautions. However, current DMC weather warnings are not specific and are inadequate to warn of impending disasters or damage.
CoGTA has assured the portfolio committee that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with SANRAL and the eThekweni Municipality is currently in the pipeline. This would enable KZN’s DMC to access cameras on the N2 and N3, track inclement weather and damage, and warn motorists timeously.
CoGTA has emphasized the challenge of unstable network connections and inadequate resources at the DMC, as well as the district municipal disaster centres. The department currently utilises satellite images to ascertain and estimate damage levels, particularly in inaccessible areas. The DA has suggested the development of an app that would enable residents to upload pictures and report damage in their areas in real time.
Disaster management should be at the top of KZNs list of priorities. Every time a disaster hits our province, billions of Rands are required to rebuild and recover. This sets our province back years and negatively affects economic development, infrastructure, health, education, housing and many other departments.
The DA has called for regular updates on disaster readiness preparedness and will monitor KZN’s CoGTA department closely. We have also called for a report on the Premiers recent Climate Change visit to the USA in order to better understand this critical issue and encourage the department to employ similar disaster management best practices.