CHAPTER 3 SERVICE DELIVERY PERFORMANCE (PERFORMANCE REPORT PART I)
16. DISASTER MANAGEMENT
16.5 Disaster Management Educational and Awareness Campaigns on Animal Health and Animal Production at Thembisile Hani Local Municipality in Response to the Incident of Cattle
Mortality
The disaster management campaigns were conducted in the Thembisile Hani Local Municipality in response to the Cattle Mortality incidents reported in September 2012
The aims of the awareness campaign were:
x To ensure that a prevent similar incidents in the future;
x To ensure that our community and farmers in particular are well capacitated on strategies to manage their livestock.
x To teach farmers on how to avoid fires in Farms.
This followed the heavy rains which were above average accompanied by hailstorms and the cold weather that prevailed. Affected animals were either in very poor condition and/or pregnant.
Investigations conducted by the department of Agriculture indicated that the animals died of hypothermia. Those that survived the cold spell later died of other causes with pneumonia being diagnosed in the majority.
Table 67 Damage Assessment
VILLAGE ASSESSMENT RELIEF
REQUIRED
RELIEF PROVIDED Buhlebesizwe
(Vlaklaagte no.2)
It was reported that all 520 houses roof sheets were damaged but only three hundred and seventy four (374) were confirmed.
Tents to cover the leaking portions of the roof or waterproofing
materials
213 tents/tarpaulins where provided by Provincial (CoGTA) and distributed to the household
104 water proofing materials were secured by the Local Municipality out of which Sixty six (66) households benefitted.
Machipe Seven (7) households were identified by Social Workers for food parcels
Food and tents Food parcels were distributed on the 21 October 2012
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VILLAGE ASSESSMENT RELIEF
REQUIRED
RELIEF PROVIDED as structural damages left
them without food
Mathyzensloop One (1) house total collapsed and three (3) houses partially damaged and seventeen (17) houses with partial roof blown up.
Food parcels and relief tents
All families were given food parcels on the 21 October 2012
Boekenouthoek x 2x class rooms roof from a school was blown off.
x 1x house totally collapsed.
x 13x partially damaged houses
Tents One (1) complete tent was provided to the family
Seven households were supplied with tarpaulins.
Two tarpaulins were supplied to the school.
Bundu Inn 2x houses are totally collapsed and 15 are partially damaged.
3x class rooms roof at 1 school was blown off.
2x complete tents and the rest indicated that they need RPD Houses
Two complete tents were supplied to two completely damaged houses.
No tents were given to the partially damaged structures as they had already started to repair their houses.
Food parcels were distributed to all the households.
Vreisgewagt An estimated 75 damaged roofs reported
Department of Human Settlement is
conducting a technical assessment
on the damages
Verification on course
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VILLAGE ASSESSMENT RELIEF
REQUIRED
RELIEF PROVIDED Gembokspruit An estimated 100 damaged
houses reported
Department of Human Settlement is
conducting a technical assessment
on the damages
Verification on course
Sun City 1x house collapsed and no casualty was reported.
Tents 1x completed tent was
supplied to the household Damage assessment was initiated simultaneously with some limited relief through the assistance of the Nkangala District Municipality, Fire Station, Thembisile Hani Local Municipality, Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and Social Development Staff on the ground as from 19 October 2012. As indicated below, the storm left serious damages as depicted:
Figure 17
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16.5 .1 Declaration of Disaster: Cattle Mortality
The Executive Mayor of Thembisile Hani Local Municipality, Clr. Ndaweni Johannes Mahlangu on the 04th December 2012 declared a state of disaster as per Council Resolution No.: TH – NDC 61/12/2012in terms of Section 55 (1) of the Disaster Management Act (Act 57 of 2002). The declaration came as a result of reports of sudden deaths in communal cattle which were received around 10th September 2012 at Kwaggafontein, where 29 cattle were reported to have died suddenly.
More deaths were reported during the week ending 14th September from various areas throughout Thembisile Hani local municipality. The symptoms that were reported were shivering and staggering of animals prior to death affecting various age groups.
Veterinary officials were deployed throughout the municipality in the affected areas to collect information, history and important epidemiological factors about the deaths. Some female animals were found to be in advanced pregnancy and would present as downer cows. Most herds visited were malnourished and one or more animals were found recumbent. Owners also reported animals rapidly deteriorating in healthy and surprisingly in some instances, animals in good condition were also reported dead.
Secondary bacterial infection was evident in the lungs in some of the animals that died well after the cold spell. Samples were collected and sent to Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute (OVI) for further analysis Post mortems were conducted on some of the dead animals. It transpired that animals were in poor condition, advanced pregnancy and some had internal bleeding on the lungs.
Figure 18
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In response to the Cattle Mortality incidents, disaster awareness campaigns were conducted in the Thembisile Hani Local Municipality reported in September 2012.
The main aim of the awareness campaign was:
x To ensure that a prevent similar incidents in the future;
x To ensure that our community and farmers in particular are well capacitated on strategies to manage their livestock.
x To teach farmers on how to avoid fires in Farms.
Table 68
Employees Disaster Management Services Administration Employees
No
Posts No Vacancies (Full time
equivalents)
Vacancies (as a % of Total posts)
Head of Disaster Management 1 1 0 0%
Programme Coordinator for Community Safety
1 1 0 0%
Disaster Management Officer 1 1 0 0%
Control Room Operators Post Level (10)
4 4 0 0%
TOTAL 7 7 0 0%
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COMPONENT H: CORPORATE POLICY OFFICES AND OTHER SERVICES This component includes: corporate policy offices, financial services, human resource services, ICT services, property services.