This unit is responsible for all the issues, incidents and activities relating to management and mitigation of disasters within Umzumbe Local Municipality. The Disaster Management Act, (Act 57 of 2002) in which the main features of disaster management are described as preventing or reducing disasters, mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery and rehabilitation.
It is also responsible for:
- Facilitating the development and implementation of the Disaster Management Plan
- Facilitating the establishment of the Umzumbe Disaster Management Advisory Forum
- To assess, prevent or reduce the risk of disasters
- Responding to disaster incidents and provide necessary support in liaison with Ugu Disaster Management Centre
- Mitigation of Disasters in Municipal Events
This unit is responsible for all the issues, incidents and activities relating to management and mitigation of disasters within Umzumbe Local Municipality. The Disaster Management Act, (Act 57 of 2002) in which the main features of disaster management are described as preventing or reducing disasters, mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery and rehabilitation.
It is also responsible for:
- Facilitating the development and implementation of the Disaster Management Plan
- Facilitating the establishment of the Umzumbe Disaster Management Advisory Forum
- To assess, prevent or reduce the risk of disasters
- Responding to disaster incidents and provide necessary support in liaison with Ugu Disaster Management Centre
- Mitigation of Disasters in Municipal Events
Community Services Unit
The section has a big role to play in ensuring safety of both community and officials during events that are hosted by the municipality. The section develops floor plans, security plans etc in ensuring that the events are free from incidents. The gap here was that service providers are not complying to regulations by providing temporal structure certificates when erecting a temporal structure. Legally the erection of such structures (tents, marquees, stages etc.) requires that the service provide appoints an engineer who will assist those responsible for evacuation with important information relating to strength of the structure, wind notches, etc. Without this certificate the municipality stands to be sued should the structure collapse. The MOU was developed but the challenge still persists.
Responding to Disaster Incidents
This section responds to reported cases of families affected by fires, heavy rains, winds, storms, lightning, etc. This year (June and July also in November and December) we had heavy rains and strong wings that swept along the coast and left many families needing assistance. The section responded to about 400 cases that were reported and provided assistance where needed the most.
Awareness Campaigns
A number of awareness campaigns were conducted this year. There was one with the community leaders in Nyavini Traditional Council. Issues of fire, climate and environmental issues were discussed. The second awareness campaign was done in collaboration with the Provincial Disaster Management Centre (PDMC) which included all 19 wards of Umzumbe. Other stakeholders were also invited to Mantiyaneni Sportsfield. A campaign was also done in collaboration with the Department of Environmental Affairs, Agriculture and Forestry. Issues of fire, wild pigs, environmental issues, etc were discussed. These were successful campaigns and were able to inform communities of assistance that is available and how to access it. There also were a number of presentations and awareness created in events and other gatherings e.g. religious leaders, and youth meetings and summits.
Risk Assessments
Risk assessments were finalized this year and a document was developed that highlight all risks of Umzumbe and profile them. The document further list the top 10 risks that the section need to concentrate on. The next step now is to compile mitigation plans for the 10 risks.
Stakeholders Advisory Forum
Disaster Management Stakeholders’ Advisory Forum was established and is currently meeting on quarterly basis or specially if there are urgent matters that need discussion. This is the most important structure of the section in that it assists with the direction for the department. With a vibrant stakeholders’ forum the section is able to link projects with those of the stakeholders like government departments. The section was able to hold 5 advisory forum meetings. The second quarter (November/December) there were heavy rains and strong winds that left about 165 families affected. This meant that focus was shifted from programs to assisting families that were affected. A number of regional and provincial meetings were held to seek assistance and to present our case in higher structures.
Trainings
A number of training were conducted in this financial year, the highlight is the volunteer training that was held in Ward 17 MPCC and in Phungashe Education Centre. There also were training of Traditional leaders (Amakhosi) that was done in collaboration with the District Disaster Management Centre (DDMC) and the training of ward committee members on Disaster Management.
Firefighting Shared Services
The section has shared services with Umdoni, Vulamehlo and Ugu District. The training for fire fighters is not yet completed as they do not have the advance driving which should allow them to drive the fire engines.
Challenges
Resources
The section is dealing with emergencies e.g. fires and accidents. The section also has a target of 72 hours response time that has to be met and this requires resources. Space is also important if we are to bring back the fire fighters to work here in the municipality.
Firefighting Shared Services
The shared service seems to be going through challenges. Operational funding is the main challenge. Umzumbe was requested to pay R233 340 on top of the R250 000 that was paid in the beginning of the financial year. Other municipalities also in the shared services were requested to pay their share. It then became apparent that Ugu is struggling financially thus could not pay. This resulted in staff (fire fighters) being out of work. This also in turn meant that services delivery was hindered.
Environmental Management Unit
The Environmental Management Unit is the “eye’’ of the Umzumbe Local Municipality as it involves the management of all components of the biophysical environment that fall within it. This Unit has a paramount responsibility of taking care of the environment and its people. These two components are interlinked and interdependent. It is this Unit’s responsibility to keep the core values of the environment intact. The municipality proudly boast of a mainly rural landscape which has a range of intrinsically valued indigenous flora and fauna. It comprises of different biomes which include mainly the savanna forest and grassland. Umzumbe Municipality comprises of many areas which are water inundated such as marshes and wetlands. It also runs along an eye-catching coastal strip.
This Unit is guided by broad legislative framework which include: The South African Constitution Act 107 of 1996, Environmental Conservation Act 73 of 1989, National Water Act 36 of 1998, National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998, Air Quality Act 39 of 2004, National Environmental Management: Waste Act 59 of 2008.
The aim of this Unit is to:
- Promote the principles of sustainable development (meeting the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations – Brundtland Commission Report 1984);
- Promote development and activities within the Municipality that do not pose a negative impact on the environmental, social and economic components;
- Preserve the Municipality’s natural and indigenous heritage;
- Engage with the National Waste Management Hierarchy by implementing the 4Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Recover);
- Monitor and regulate all types of pollution including (water, noise, air and soil);
- Provide a clean and healthy environment conducive to and supporting a better quality of life;
- Ensure sustainable tourism and benefit sharing prevails;
- Ensure that development taking place for economic benefit has little to no adverse impact on the environment.
This Unit is responsible for the following areas:
- Development and implementation of Environmental Management Tools which include the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Spatial Development Framework (SDF), Environmental Management Plan (EMP) and the Alien Invasive Plant Management Plan (AIPMP);
- Coordinating and attending to issues pertaining to waste management and the regulation of waste on a daily basis;
- Developing initiatives that promote the physical condition of the environment in alignment with Climate Change;
- Develop and introduce environmentally sustainable practices to rehabilitate corroded physical environments;
- Identify, assess and monitor activities which pose negative impacts on the environment which fall under the Municipality;
- Ensuring the compliance of Environmental Legislation and Policies;
- Conducting Environmental Education and Awareness Programs for a broad range of stakeholders within the Umzumbe Municipality which include (municipal officials, residents, community groups, trader association, schools, agencies, etc. )
