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Acknowledgements
Introduction
The purpose of this handbook
Background
Disaster planning
World wide trends
National response
Principles of Disaster Management

The 9 step process
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
Step 7
Step 8
Step 9

Extra Tools - a summary
Tool 1
Tool 2
Tool 3
Tool 4
Tool 5
Tool 6
Tool 7
Tool 8
Tool 9

National response

Disasters in South Africa have been dominated by localised events such as veld fires, seasonal flooding and accidents in the mining industry. Nationally, severe drought has affected macro-economic growth and the livelihoods of the poorer sections of the population living in rural areas. The high cost of disasters in South Africa is illustrated in the following examples.

Place	Disaster	Cost

South Africa	Drought, 1991-92	•	49 000 agricultural jobs lost
		•	20 000 non-agricultural jobs lost
		•	Associated with 27% decline in
			agricultural gross domestic product

Ladysmith	Floods, 1994	•	400 families evacuated
		•	R50 million damages

Merriespruit	Slimes dam, 1994	•	17 lives lost
		•	R45 million damages

Pietermaritzburg	Floods, 1995	•	173 lives lost
		•	Emergency shelter needed for 5 500

Ladysmith	Floods, 1996	•	Damage to infrastructure: R25 million

Northern Province	Floods, 1996	•	R105 million damages

Mpumalanga	Floods, 1996	•	R500 million damages

In 2002 the Government of South Africa introduced the Disaster Management Act 2002 (Act No 57 of 2002). The Act came into effect in April 2004 for Provinces and July 2004 for local governments. There is a two -year timeframe for implementation. The Act sets the direction for the development of all disaster management plans across the country based on disaster planning which incorporates prevention and preparedness as well as response and recovery.

South Africa’s National Disaster Management Structure
The South African National Disaster Management structure, is based on three spheres of Government, namely National, Provincial and Municipal. At the national level there is an
Inter-Ministerial Committee for Disaster Management. Under the Act there is an option of a Disaster Management Advisory Forum. The national guidelines strongly recommend this. The national guidelines also recommend that there is an Advisory Forum at both Provincial and Municipal levels.

See National Disaster Management Guidelines on www.local.gov.za

National	Inter Ministerial Committee for Disaster Management Minister for Provincial and Local Government (chair)	• Advice to Cabinet • Establishment of National Disaster Management frameworks
Provincial	Provincial Disaster Management Advisory Forum	• Provincial disaster management coordination • Promotion of prevention and preparedness
Municipal	District or Local Municipal Disaster Management Advisory Forum	• Municipal disaster management coordination • Promotion of prevention and preparedness

See Tool 1 Disaster Management across 3 spheres of Government - for the structure of disaster management across National, Provincial and Municipal Government in the extra tools at the back of these guidelines.

National
At the National level, the key institutional mechanism is the Intergovernmental Committee on Disaster Management, chaired by the Minister for Provincial and Local Government. The primary functions of this committee are to advise and make recommendations to cabinet:

i.	on issues relating to disaster management
ii.	on the establishment of a national framework for disaster management aimed at ensuring an integrated and uniform approach to disaster management by all national, provincial and municipal governments, officials with statutory functions, non-governmental institutions involved in disaster management, the private sector, communities and individuals.

Provincial
At the Provincial level, the key institutional mechanism is the Provincial Disaster Management Advisory Forum. The focus is on integration and coordination, and reports through the relevant MEC to Cabinet. Responsibilities are to promote an approach to disaster management within the Province linked to the Provincial Growth and Development Plan so that risks of disaster do not impact negatively on economic investment, wealth creation and quality of life.

Municipal
At the Municipal level, the key institutional mechanism is the Disaster Management Advisory Forum, reporting through EXCO, which must have a portfolio holder for disaster management. Some of the larger municipalities may decide to have a portfolio committee for disaster management. The key responsibilities are to promote an integrated and coordinated approach to disaster management in the Municipal sphere, linking it to the IDP.

See Tool 2 Municipal Disaster Management Framework for the sections of the Disaster Management Act 2002 which address the role and responsibilities of municipalities, in extra tools the at the back of these guidelines

Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) and Disaster Management Planning
Disaster Management needs to be coordinated across all 3 spheres of government. The Disaster Management Act 2002 gives roles and responsibilities to each sphere. Some of these are musts that the Province, District or Metro or Local Municipality has to do. Some of these are optional.

Disaster management planning is a must for Provinces, Districts or Metros, and Local Municipalities. For Provinces this means planning by each relevant provincial department as well. For Districts or Metros and Local Municipalities their Disaster Management Plans must be integrated with their IDPs. For both, the community must be involved.

See Tool 3 The roles of Provinces, District and Local Municipalities in Disaster Management in the extra tools at the end of this handbook. This charts the different roles and indicates what are musts, shoulds, and may do’s in responsibilities.