Analysis of legislation related to disaster risk reduction in South Africa
October 27, 2014
While South Africa is subject to a wide variety of natural and human-induced hazards, the three that occur most frequently – floods, droughts and fires – are all associated with water, its excess or its lack. South Africa is a water-stressed country and lack of sufficient water is the most significant resource constraint on development. Climate change projections over the next 50 years, moreover, predict that the western parts of the country will become drier and the eastern parts wetter, with an increase in temperatures in the interior and increased frequency of extreme weather events.
Disaster risk reduction (DRR) is a central focus of the DMA for “disaster management” is defined as meaning “a continuous and integrated multi-sectoral, multi-disciplinary process of planning and implementation of measures aimed at: (a) preventing or reducing the risk of disasters; (b) mitigating the severity or consequences of disasters; (c) emergency preparedness; (d) a rapid and effect response to disasters; and (e) post disaster recovery and rehabilitation.”
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent