Page 32 - Research Report 2025.1

Participant 2
“I’m referring to this because during the pandemic itself, it was all not only government institutions that we would see supporting and trying to give people resources and food and other aid. In terms of dealing with the disaster, but there was business as well. People who have businesses, in the local government space,
they were there to make sure that they assist local government in making sure that people, do survive, in making sure that, opportunities for the young, who had small businesses but are being hindered by a disaster.
The Matatiele side has wealth of NGOs, that side. All that
are dealing with these things. So they are always coming up with funding the funds to create job opportunities in the space of maybe, alien plants removal projects that are there to make sure that our communities, as much as we deal with the issue of aliens, but our communities must benefit in terms of job creation.”
Participant 4
“There are NGOs that are here supporting. But they can’t be here forever.”
Participant 5
“There are NGOs working in partnership with government
in making sure that they are supporting the livelihoods of the people of Alfred Ndzo. NGOs such as ERS (Environmental and Rural Services) in Matatiele work together to preserve the environment and also ensure people tap into the farming industry.”
Focus group Participant
“ I think to add is the NGOs that we also work with. Red Cross, Alumdad (not sure of the spelling) foundation. Then the Gift of
the Givers, they are so instrumental in terms of supporting the communities, responding to disasters. I think during the response to flood we are also supported by the Lottery Foundation. And
then the district municipality is also having partnerships with the private sectors. So the support from those insurances for instance there is a partnership with Santam, partnership with Old Mutual
so the resources that we gather from there, we’re able to cascade it down to the local municipalities. And I think the office of the mayor, also engages with the business sector. At some point when there is disasters, we are still waiting for the municipality is unable to cope, and we’re still waiting for external support from various depart- ments as my colleague has outlined. And then we would, through the office of the mayor, engage the business sector in terms of supporting the communities. Even though, we still feel that, the business sector is not doing as much as it is supposed to be doing because of their social responsibilities. In the communities that they work in.. But we’ll find that there’s not much impact that they are actually doing..And then I remember during the time of droughts, they would, Alumdad, provide boreholes so that there would be availability of water for the communities and the animals.
And then the private sectors, for instance, your Santam and old mutual are assisting mostly on capacity building of the practi- tioners and also the institutional arrangements in terms of commit- tees, in terms of understanding what is it that is our responsibility, what is it that we need, that what is it that we need to do, in in terms of, enhancing our capacity to deal with the disasters in all the local municipalities of the Alfred Ndzo.”
Microfinance and Economic Support
The role of microfinance in post-disaster recovery was criticised for being exploitative rather than supportive. Participant 4 provided a harsh critique of the microfinance system in Alfred Nzo, noting that instead of offering relief, it exacerbates the financial burden on vulnerable communities. Focus group participants added that government bodies like the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) provide emergency response and reconstruction grants during disaster recovery. However, it remains unclear how these funds are allocated and whether they are enough to address the full extent of the damage.
Participant 4
If we are talking about microfinancing, it is done in a very wrong way, not supporting, but siphoning. Microfinance
is where you get to be financed, but you are billed. Like,
you borrow 10,000, and you repay 40,000. So it’s not microfinancing. It’s siphoning finance from these people, and that is what is killing our area, our economy.
Focus group Participant
And then the COGTA. Through the provincial and the national disaster management centre will receive emergency response grants for responding to emergency response funds and reconstruction and rehabilitation grants in terms of rebuilding back. Whatever it was affected by.
Disaster Management Structures and Joint Operations
Disaster management in the Alfred Nzo District is structured around coordination between various government departments. Participant 3 described how local government engages in Joint Operations Centers (JOCs), bringing together key stakeholders to assess and respond to disasters. Participant 5 mentioned that the district has disaster management officers (DMOs) and field workers responsible for preparing and responding to disasters. These officers ensure that the Alfred Nzo District is continuously prepared with disaster management plans and policies. Moreover, these joint operations have institutional backing, and a disaster management forum brings together the district and local municipalities to discuss disaster issues.
Participant 3
“So like measures to respond as a local government when there’s these disasters. We sit in a JOC or coordinate to each other, and then you go and do the assessment with all disaster management role players.”
Participant 7
“We coordinate joint operations, because the local municipality is having a mandate to coordinate activities post disaster. So there’s a joint operational centre made out of government departments.”
30 | STUDY OBJECTIVE II