Cape Town: A review of six months between July and December shows that the Disaster Risk Management Centre coordinated the responses to more than 30,000 weather-related incidents with the prevailing damaging winds across many parts of the province, recording 200% increase compared to the previous year, as fires also increased.
Reportedly, the Disaster Risk Management Centre worked to mitigate the risk of weather or man-made impacts and to drive any response in the wake of such impacts. The City of Cape Town saw an increase in formal and informal residential fires from July to December 2024 as well as weather-related incidents. The number of homes affected decrease during the period in review.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Safety and Security – Alderman JP Smith said that nearly 90,000 people required assistance during the six-month period in 2024, triple of the previous year. They commended the Disaster Risk Management Centre, NGOs and other partners who stepped up.
However, the current model is unsustainable. When SASSA decided to take direct control of humanitarian relief seven years ago. They raised a concern that it would slow down the provision of aid to those in need during times of disaster.
According to Smith, the City of Cape Town has transpired exactly and believes that the decentralisation of aid provision will allow municipalities to act more swiftly and decisively in times of need.
Moreover, the Winter Readiness Task Team of the City of Cape Town has been meeting bi-weekly since February to coordinate mitigation measures before the seasons change. The Disaster Risk Management Advisory Forum, meets quarterly and will receive a seasonal outlook briefing from the South African Weather Service at its next meeting later this month, to further inform planning and mitigation before winter arrives.
Smith further stated that last winter proved one of the most challenging on record. The City of Cape Town is doing all it can to mitigate the potential impacts this year.
“I do, however, want to urge the public to put in the work too, to ensure that their properties and environment are adequately secured,” said JP Smith.
He added that his team also asked that they support the donation drives of the City of Cape Town to supplement aid provision, which will be announced in due course. “I think it is fair to say that effective risk mitigation and responses will benefit us all,” concluded JP Smith.