Page 48 - Research Report 2025.1

Emergency Response Grants
Emergency response grants play a critical role in disaster recovery. A Participant from the focus group explained that the national and provincial disaster management centers provide emergency response and reconstruction grants, which help local governments rebuild infrastructure and address the immediate aftermath of disasters. These funds are crucial in restoring community services and ensuring that affected areas recover more quickly.
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.
Awareness campaigns
Focus group Participant
“And then the district municipality is also having partnerships with the private with the private sectors. Yeah. So the support from those insurances, like, for instance there is a partnership with Santum, partnership with Old Mutual so the resources that we gather from there, we’re able to cascade it down to the local municipalities. For external support. And I think the office of
the mayor, also engages with the business sector. At some point when there is disasters when actually, the we are still waiting for we the municipality is unable to cope, and we’re still waiting for external support from various departments as my colleague has have outlined. Yes. 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”
Awareness campaigns were identified as key in educating communities about disaster preparedness, which increases resilience. Participant 3 and particpant 1 discussed the importance of reaching vulnerable populations, such as people with disabilities, through targeted awareness programs. These campaigns ensure that all community members are equipped with knowledge about disaster risks and safety measures.
Participant 1
“Mhmm. Maybe awareness is that they they do, do them, but then you also have that challenge that we mentioned that people if you’re saying you’re coming to do a disaster awareness, you only you simply have to go to a school where, you know, children are still interested, to to grab whatever information is given to them.”
Participant 3
“There are awareness campaigns as well, example, we recently engaged in terms of IDTR, International disaster risk reduction
is. We find that some people cannot come to where we are but we venture to them because disabled people cannot come to the awareness events. So we go and talk to them. Whatever hazard we are talking about, whatever information, so I want to say that awareness campaigns help us a lot in this area and the support from the municipality”.
Implications of the Results
Disaster Management Structures and Their Implications for Resilience
The results reveal that Alfred Nzo’s disaster management structures, such as the Joint Operations Committee (JOC) and the disaster management unit, are central to the district’s resilience. These structures ensure that responses to disasters are well-coordinated and resources are deployed efficiently. The implication here is that maintaining and strengthening these structures is essential for effective disaster response and recovery. Continued investment in training disaster management officers, enhancing communication channels, and regularly updating disaster management plans will be crucial in ensuring these systems remain effective during emergencies. Additionally, building further capacity to support recovery efforts, such as restoring livelihoods for farmers impacted by disasters, should be a priority to enhance long-term resilience.
NGO Partnerships and Their Role in Disaster Resilience
NGO partnerships have been shown to provide critical resources, expertise, and support, particularly in vulnerable areas such as environmental protection, health, and job creation. These collaborations extend the local government’s ability to respond to disasters and support affected populations. The implications suggest that strengthening these partnerships and formalizing more long-term collaborations can significantly improve disaster preparedness and response efforts. NGOs can be instrumental in filling resource gaps that local governments may face, particularly in extended recovery periods, but there must be consistent coordination to ensure efforts are complementary and targeted. Enhancing joint planning and capacity-building between local governments and NGOs would foster a more integrated and resilient disaster response framework.
Private Sector Involvement and the Need for Enhanced Social Responsibility
The involvement of the private sector is critical for providing immediate disaster relief, such as food, supplies, and financial aid. However, the results indicate that private sector engagement often lacks the depth necessary to support long-term recovery and disaster preparedness. The implications of this are significant. The private sector must adopt a more proactive and sustained approach to its role in disaster resilience. Businesses should be incentivised to invest in disaster risk reduction, such as supporting infrastructure development, providing
46 | STUDY OBJECTIVE II