Page 28 - Research Report 2025.1

Key Concepts in the Definition of Disasters
Key concepts in the definition of disasters, as described by participants, center around several critical factors. First, disasters are identified by their magnitude and scale, with events affecting large numbers of people and causing widespread damage to infrastructure and property. The uncontrollability of disasters is another defining characteristic. These events are unpredictable and beyond the ability of communities to prevent or mitigate without external assistance.
Furthermore, disasters lead to a significant disruption of daily life, cutting off access to essential services such as health care, transportation, and utilities, further complicating recovery efforts. A key concept is the coping capacity of the community; disasters are marked by the inability of the local population to recover using their own resources. When recovery necessitates outside intervention, the event is classified as a disaster. Lastly, loss of livelihoods is a central feature. Beyond damaging physical infrastructure, disasters also threaten the economic base of communities, particularly in rural areas where livelihoods depend on agriculture and natural resources.
From a local governance perspective, how have disasters and pandemics influenced livelihoods in rural sectors?
Theme 1:
Impact of disasters on livelihoods
(Theme 1) Impact of disasters on livelihoods
Loss of lives
Displacement and Increased Vulnerability of Marginalised Groups
Loss of Livelihood
Participant 2 highlighted the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on livelihoods in the region. The results show that the pandemic led to a significant loss of breadwinners, leaving many families without a primary source of income. The widespread death toll and the economic disruption caused by the lockdowns fundamentally altered the socio-economic fabric of many households. This underscores the fragility of rural economies that heavily rely on informal businesses and agricultural activities, which were severely disrupted by the pandemic and the accompanying movement restrictions.
A Focus group Participant
4 13 2 2 1 1
Threat to Food Security Due to Agricultural Disruptions
3
3
Loss of Livelihood
2
4
Infrastructure Damage
1
3
Participant 2
“Of course, COVID, the famous one, the COVID 19, It also was a hectic disaster, and, it changed the livelihoods to a great extent. Some families are no longer the same. Some people, some people died, and they were breadwinners of those families. And, it’s quite hefty, and, it really challenged a lot of livelihood and access to resources as well, because, not only COVID, but others, it is disasters that I’ve mentioned also were a risk to food security to how people live their day to day lives and, having”
“During COVID lockdown, a lot of people lost their small businesses, lost their jobs. During lockdown, we were not even allowed to move and go and tend to your garden or emasimini. Especially with that level 5 lockdown. More especially with the level 5 lockdown. And with the level 5 lockdown, it made it very hard even with the level. As the level dropped, it was still hard for people to come back from the impact of what level 5.”
Loss of lives
Participant 2 emphasised the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in terms of the loss of lives. The death of breadwinners left families without their primary source of income, further exacerbating the already fragile economic situation in many rural households. The pandemic not only claimed lives but also destabilised the livelihoods of entire families, emphasizing the vulnerability of rural communities in the face of health crises. In addition to the pandemic, a focus group participant highlighted the recurring issue of drownings due to a lack of proper infrastructure, such as bridges.
These drownings occur frequently, particularly near schools and rivers where children and animals depend on unsafe crossings. The lack of local capacity, such as trained divers, means that the district must often rely on external support from neighboring provinces like KwaZulu-Natal to assist in such emergencies. This points to a critical gap in local disaster response infrastructure, further endangering lives and delaying crucial rescue efforts.
Participant 2
Of course, COVID, the famous one, the COVID 19, It also
was a hectic disaster, and, it changed the livelihoods to a great extent. Some people, some people died, and they were breadwinners of those families.
A Focus group Participant
Yes, we have a lot of drownings. Remember we don’t have proper bridges and there will be a particular school across the river. In terms of capacity we don’t have divers. We often rely on other provinces like KwaZulu-Natal to come and assist us.
26 | STUDY OBJECTIVE II