Today, 05 March 2025 conveyed an Indaba under the theme“EVERYDAY COUNTS , ACT FOR RESILIENCE TODAY ” at the Ambel Inn Hotel in iXopo. The event, hosted by the Departments: Harry Gwala District Disaster Management Center, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs - Provincial Disaster Management Centre, and National Disaster Management brought together disaster management professionals, emergency service practitioners, private sector representatives, sector departments, researchers, and thought leaders. The Harry Gwala District Municipality Mayor Cllr Zamo Nxumalo addressed delegates who attended the Disaster Management Indaba where he stated: “It is a great honour to participate in the Indaba as it provides an opportunity to engage with all kinds of disaster practitioners to discuss this crucial matter that we face as KwaZulu-Natal Province. As local government we are in a move aimed at strengthening the capacity of local government in disaster risk management.This is a great platform to bring innovative ideas to control disaster incidents and share ideas that will save lives of our communities. The disaster management is everybody's responsibility ". The aim of conveying the Disaster Management Indaba is to bring various subject matter experts to engage and chart effective response strategies to disasters under the 2025 Theme [ Everyday Counts, Act for Resilience Today ]. the Department is in an advanced state to respond better and effectively to disasters in future, be it Fire, Floods or any other disaster incidents threatening community lives. In the past the province have been affected by most disasters that struck the country and we can't just fold arms and await disasters to happen and we are then found wanting. The presentation from the various stakeholders illuminated the importance of effective early warning systems, risk reduction, and Resilience-building.These programmes focus on building the capacity of local government to deliver essential services and respond to disasters.They also engage on the incident reporting protocol and how the information and communication system assist is ensuring that there is synergy and efficient response to incidents The Indaba consolidated the local government perspectives on the ongoing review of the country's disaster management system and address pressing issues affecting the district.The arrival of the rainy season quickly translates into widespread flooding across the country, with each year brings more severe impacts on vulnerable communities. While disaster management professionals work tirelessly to mitigate risks and respond effectively, lives remain lost, critical infrastructure is damaged, and services are disrupted. Restoring normalcy and rehabilitating infrastructure remains challenging due to the significant social and economic implications. The burden on the national fiscus is also becoming unsustainable in the long run.
