Presentation to the Portfolio Committee: Update on the

Management of Recent Disaster Incidents

By: Elroy AfricaDG: Department Of Cooperative

Governance

- 03 March 2011 -

PURPOSE

– To update the Portfolio Committee on the short-term weather forecasts & levels of key dams and river systems

– To report on key disaster management actions undertaken to date and priority actions going forward.

WEATHER UPDATE: Summer Rainfall Areas

Projected Weather Conditions: 25 February - 3 March 2011:

– Isolated showers and thundershowers are expected over the south-eastern, eastern and north-eastern parts of the country with possible light rain/showers along the Eastern Cape coast on Monday, 28 February 2011.

– Thundershowers spreading into the central areas or eastern parts of Northern-Cape and the Eastern Cape interior.

– There is no indication of a widespread heavy-rain-producing system, but the weather patterns are continuously being monitored.

• During Second week from 4 to 10 March 2011, the summer thundershowers are likely to persist over the Eastern Cape, Free State, North-West, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and southern parts of Limpopo.

• Longer Term Outlook:

The likelihood for above normal rainfall over the summer rainfall regions, particularly affecting the eastern and south-eastern regions, still exist till around March 2011.

NB: The South African Weather Service (SAWS) still predicts wet conditions for the next two months (March to April).

 

WEATHER UPDATE.. cont.

SURFACE WATER STORAGE as at 14 February 2011

DAM LEVELS as at 18 February 2011

DAM LEVELS: 18 February 2011

• Drought alert for parts of the Eastern Cape as dam levels are very low.

• Currently most of the dams in the flood affected areas are back to normal.

• Currently, no warning alert from DWA for downstream flooding along the Vaal and Orange river basin.

• However, alert warnings will be issued to the public well in advance – for potentially threatening conditions.

Status of Flood damages to date

• NATJOC teams visited all affected 8 Provinces between the 7th -17th February 2011.

• Assessments involved provinces, sectors depts., municipalities and other agencies.

• Damages were assessed focusing on priority areas, viz:– Schools

– Roads and bridges

– Houses

– Agricultural infrastructure and services

• Not all affected areas were reached due to their vastness – follow-up assessments being made.

Number of houses damaged per province

2949 2936

1847

6238

1540

49920

1560

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

Provinces

Number of houses damaged

Eastern Cape

Free state

Gauteng

KZN

Limpopo

Mpumalanga

Northern Cape

North West

Number of schools damaged per province

FINANCIAL ESTIMATES as at 28 February 2011

PROVINCES COST ESTIMATIONS

Eastern Cape R714 936 236

Free state R909 649 480(excl areas not declared as disasters)

Gauteng 174 000 000 (to be verified)

Kwa Zulu- Natal R544 226 274

Limpopo R1 243 050 000

Mpumalanga R43 156 755

Northern Cape R3 705 855 227

North West R138 269 744

TOTAL R7, 473, 143, 716

RESOURCES ALLOCATED & ACTIONS TAKEN

Responsible Sector

Mechanisms Amount Available

Actions Taken

Water Affairs Minister Emergency Relief Fund R3.9m allocated thus far to three provinces

Management of dam levels;Awareness raising on potential risks;Allocated funds for relief

Social Development

-Social Relief of Distress fund (administered by SASSA)-Emergency Relief Fund-Disaster Relief Fund-National Treasury Allocation (from SASSA savings)

R143m

R5mR98mR100m

Immediate Humanitarian Relief across provinces

Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries

Flood Assistance Scheme (draft) R27m (at least) Assessment of damages;Allocated R27m in LP;Provision of immediate relief measures

Public Works MOU with SANDF

IDT Programme Manager

R26m

R100mR150m

12 Low-cost (bailey) bridges built NW, EC & GP;Mud Schools (IDT);Pot Holes Repair

RESOURCES ALLOCATED & ACTIONS TAKEN

Responsible Sector

Mechanisms Amount Available

Actions Taken

Transport Road Maintenance Programme tbd Programme approved

Health Emergency Medical ServicesDisease Monitoring Programme

tbd Disease Outbreak Monitoring

Human Settlements

Housing Rectification Funding Allocation (EC & KZN)

R150m Allocated Emergency Housing Funding

Basic Education School Maintenance Programme tbd Allocated mobile classes; Accommodation of displaced learners, e.g. in NC

Rural Development

Disaster Relief Package R33.5m Assessment undertaken; Plan to provide - 800 emergency houses; lighting conductors; solar radios & lights

CROSS CUTTING ACTIONS

Action Progress Update Responsibility

1. Prioritise assessment of schools, reconstruction of access roads and bridges and damaged

NATJOC Team prioritised the matters during the assessment

All responsible departments

2. Identify immediate funds for disaster relief

Uneven / Poor responses received from sectors and provinces following response from letters written to them

All responsible departments & provinces

3. Update Cabinet Report submitted to G&A Cabinet Committee

DCoG

4. NATJOC to remain operational

Since the floods have subsided, the NATJOC meets on a weekly basis

DCoG(NDMC)

5. Regular media statements

Media statements issued GCIS & DCoG

CROSS CUTTING ACTIONSAction Progress Update Responsibility

6. IMC must meet regularly Ongoing (next meeting 3/3/2011)

DCoG

7. Sectors, provinces and municipalities to continue to discharge their respective roles for disaster management

Ongoing All responsible departments

8. All provincial, district and metropolitan Disaster Management Centres to prepare proactive Disaster Risk Management Response plans

A Framework distributed to all sectors; deadline end March 2011

DCoG

9. Coordinate engagement with stakeholders & private sector companies and institutions regarding assistance

DCoG & DSD collaborating;Over R18m in the Red Cross account

DCoG & DSD

1. Ongoing humanitarian relief measures.

2. Finalise damage verification and costing of repairs, rehabilitation and reconstruction measures.

3. Ongoing stakeholder mobilisation & source mobilisation.

4. Ongoing monitoring across sectors & provinces. Convening of weekly NATJOC meetings. Regular briefings to the Inter-Ministerial Committee

WAY FORWARD

Disaster Risk Management is Everybody’s Business

We thank you