B. SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS
6.15 DISASTER MANAGEMENT
6.15.1 Introduction
In view of the uMlalazi Local Municipality‟s physical characteristics in combination with the social characteristics of the area, there are a number of disasters that are likely to occur:
Flooding
The uMlalazi Area can be described as a high rainfall area and the undulating topography has resulted in a number of rivers and streams occurring in the area. Due to the absence of potable water in many instances in the rural areas, communities tend to settle in proximity to rivers and streams, mostly without due consideration of flood lines along these water courses.
Veld and Bush Fires
These occur during protracted periods of drought and are aided by the generally dense vegetation such as cane fields, forests and invasive alien vegetation throughout the municipal area. In recent times fires have caused considerable damage in the area.
Cholera and Other Related Diseases
The occurrence of these diseases is as a result of the absence of potable water as well as sanitation in many areas in the rural component of the municipality. This results in the contamination of the natural sources of water (rivers and streams). These diseases may take on disaster proportions and is specifically characteristic to the rural areas. The rural component of the municipality is large as the total municipality covers an area of 2 217km² of which only Eshowe, Mtunzini and Gingindlovu are urban areas. These diseases are life threatening and require constant monitoring.
HIV/Aids Pandemic
The pandemic in the province of KwaZulu Natal and the uMlalazi Local Municipality are highlighted in the HIV/Aids Sector Plan. It is estimated that there are 83 000 HIV/Aids infected persons in the municipality and this may in future place significant pressures on the availability of burial spaces in cemeteries as well as on health-care facilities in general.
6.15.2 Integrated Disaster Management Plan
6.15.2.1 Objectives
The Disaster Management Plan as prepared by the uMlalazi Local Municipality is designed to:
anticipate the types of disasters that are most likely to occur in the area it applies to;
identify the possible effects of any disaster that may occur;
identify preventative and mitigating strategies to deal with any possible disaster;
involve all role players in a coordinated manner to respond to the challenges posed in disaster situations;
procure essential goods and services for disaster management;
identify the weaknesses in respect of capacity and skills to deal effectively with disaster situations;
provide essential skills training and to promote awareness and preparedness in respect of the occurrence of disasters; and
advanced planning in respect of relief operations that may be required or to be exercised in disaster situations.
6.15.2.2 Disaster Management Plan
Prevention
The uMlalazi Local Municipality has a 24 hour Alpha Emergency Control Centre located at the offices of the Manager Protection Services in Butcher Street, Eshowe. The centre is equipped with emergency telephones, radio communication and the telephone numbers of all the role players who are to take pat in the event of a disaster. Regular staff training takes place. If a disaster is to occur in the areas of Mtunzini or Gingindlovu, the Eshowe Centre will be used as the Disaster Management Centre.
Disaster Mitigation
The Management Committee is responsible for hazard assessment in terms of the type of hazard that is occurring or has occurred. These hazards may include fires, flooding, drought, people fleeing from violence or disaster, homeless victims, transportation accidents and heath epidemics and diseases.
A vulnerability assessment is done of the uMlalazi Local Municipality in terms of house fires, sugar cane and grass fires in the farming areas, rural areas as well as the urban areas. Flooding potential as occurred during the Demoina Cyclone Floods in the area is also determined and all low-lying areas have been identified.
In instances where droughts occur, water tankers are put to use for the supply of drinking water.
Further issues that have been assessed are he potential of bus accidents ad collisions with specific reference to the district roads in the rural areas, the care for homeless people living under inhumane circumstances as well as epidemics like cholera.
Preparedness
The management structures that have been put into place presents a situation of continuous preparedness for the entire municipal area.
Response and Rescue
The uMlalazi Local Municipality has a 24 hour protection service carrying out traffic control and fire and rescue services. All central and provincial departments of government are integrated into the process.
Rehabilitation and Construction
No-governmental organizations and community-based organizations are integrated into dealing with this aspect of disaster management.
Development
This responsibility vests in the committee put in place for this purpose and is tasked to take care of development of all essential services and the care of victims resulting from the occurrence of a disaster.
6.15.3 Capacity Problems
The uMlalazi Local Municipality is the product of the disestablishment of three previous autonomous municipalities (Eshowe, Mtunzini and Gingindlovu) without any consideration for the surrounding rural areas. All three these municipalities were operated as separate and independent entities and a lack of coordination was therefore the order of the day. Through the amalgamation process the three separate local authorities were merged and consolidate into one, but importantly, a very large rural component was incorporated into the area of jurisdiction. Not only has this resulted in difficulties in coping with the provision of infrastructure capacity, but also in respect of manpower capacity. Not one of the previous individual municipalities built the capacity or acquired the essential equipment to deal with the current challenges being experienced to deal with an area of 2 217km².
It is therefore a factual situation that the uMlalazi Local Municipality does not have the capacity in terms of manpower nor the technical support equipment to deal with a major disaster. This conclusion is underlined by the fact that there is a shortfall of 6 police stations in the municipal area and that there is a critical need for a fire station in all three of the urban nodes, let alone the merging nodes.
In the community needs analysis for the uMlalazi Integrated Development Plan one of the highest ranking priorities is the upgrading of the existing road network coupled with the improvement of the accessibility in the rural areas. It is therefore of little value to build the required capacities to deal with a disaster, only to experience the inability to reach the areas within which the disaster is occurring due to poor roads and access infrastructure.
It is submitted that the uThungulu District Municipality is to take due cognizance of this situation and deal with these issues in collaboration with the KwaZulu Natal Department of Transport.
6.15.4 Identified Role Players
The key role players in the uMlalazi Disaster Management Plan have been identified and are actively involved therein. These role players are:
the Municipal Manager and the five departmental managers;
the Manager of Protection Services obviously is key t the overall structure;
no-governmental organisations (NGO‟s);
community based organization (NGO‟s);
the South African Police Service (SAPS);
the South African National Defence Force (SANDF);
private companies and enterprises; and the local commercial sector.
6.15.5 Management Structure
The management structure for the uMlalazi Disaster Management Plan is the following:
The Municipal Manager and a Management Committee consisting of senior officials of the municipality execute the core management function.
A Health and Medical Committee which is headed by the Manager of Community Services and includes as members thereof the Senior Medical Superintendent of the Eshowe Provincial Hospital, the District Surgeon, Senior Health Nurse and others.
A Welfare and Relief Committee which is headed by the Manager Corporate Services of the municipality with other officials of the municipality.
A Response and Rescue Committee headed by the Manager Protection Services of the municipality with representation thereon by the Provincial Roads Inspector of the KwaZulu Natal Department of Transport, the Station Commissioner of the South African Police Service and the Commanding Officer of GR27 of the South African National Defense Force.
A Reconstruction Committee headed by the Manager Engineering Services of the municipality, officials of the municipality and the General Manager of the KwaZulu Natal Department of Transport.
A Development Committee headed by the Manager Financial Services of the municipality and other officials of that department
7 ENVIRONMENTAL OVERVIEW
Information below have been extracted, verbatim, from uMalalzi‟s Integrated Environmental Program prepared by Udidi Project Development Company (Pty) Ltd in association with PDNA (April 2007).