Parliament, Friday, 22 November 2024 – The Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) on Friday resolved to invite the COGTA department to explain decisions on disaster funding to provinces.
A National Disaster Management Centre team briefed the committee on disaster readiness and the Centre’s response capabilities for the summer season.
The committee heard that an increase in disaster incidents and damages requires investment in preparedness and disaster risk reduction measures by all stakeholders to anticipate future disaster risk, reduce exposure or vulnerability and improve community resilience.
The committee, however, believes that disaster financing needs to be improved. Committee members said that this needs specific attention because disasters need to be managed to ensure quick response, easy coordination, and direct responses to deal with recovery in the affected areas. The committee also believes that the processes to respond to disasters often take too long, and funding is a big factor in this.
Committee Chairperson Dr Zweli Mkhize said, “We can’t fold our hands and wait until disaster hits, and then we just say we did not check for any readiness. This is very important.”
The committee heard that a submission was made to the National Treasury for disaster funding for five provinces most affected by disasters, and only one province – the Western Cape – received an allocation. The committee requested that the NDMC share the submission with them. “We believe it is illogical, unreasonable and unfair,” said the Chairperson. “We will need both Treasury and COGTA to come and answer the committee as to why such an irrational decision has been made. We believe that this needs to be rectified. There is no way you can explain to the whole country that when we have seen floods hitting Durban and provinces being affected so heavily by disasters, only one province is allocated money.”
The committee also urged the Centre to brief all the municipalities that may be affected in the summer season ahead of time to prepare them. He said dry runs to test responses should be considered. The committee also stressed that municipalities affected by disasters must be part of any discussions relating to disaster preparedness. Another issue that the committee flagged relates to people living on flood plains. The committee said that the COGTA department must take responsibility and help prevent this.
The committee plans to invite the departments to brief them next week on the disaster funding allocation to provinces.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS, DR ZWELI MKHIZE.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact:
Name: Alicestine October (Ms)
Cell: 083 665 4345
E-mail: aoctober@parliament.gov.za
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