Amathole District Municipality Leads Disaster Risk Reduction Dialogue in Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality
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Amathole District Municipality (ADM), in collaboration with Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality and partners including the South African Police Service (SAPS), Department of Home Affairs, SASSA, the Eastern Cape Department of Social Development, and other key stakeholders, commemorated the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction on 14 October 2025, under the theme “Building Resilient Communities.”
This marked ADM’s second annual observance of the event, with the inaugural program hosted in Mnquma Local Municipality in 2024. The initiative is rooted in raising community awareness and strengthening local disaster preparedness. Notably, the Skiti informal settlements in Mnquma LM who were gravely affected by floods this year served as a poignant reminder of the critical importance of such awareness campaigns. The core objective of the event was to empower communities with knowledge around disaster risks and encourage proactive planning. Emphasis was placed on embedding robust disaster risk management strategies within municipal development plans and prioritising preventative funding, rather than relying solely on post-disaster relief.
Key focus areas included:
• Proactive risk reduction
• Increased on-the-ground interventions
• Greater involvement of technical staff and frontline stakeholders
Speaking at the event, Raymond Mhlaba Mayor Cllr. Nomhle Sango reiterated the importance of partnerships through structures such as Joint Operations Committees (JOCs) and the implementation of the District Development Model (DDM).
“We must have a unity of purpose involving the community, government, traditional leaders, and churches to build resilient communities,” - said Sango.
Tackling root causing of disasters, presentations from various stakeholders identified climate change as a leading contributor (80%) to disaster events due to the interdependence between people and the environment. The message was clear: “If we protect nature, nature will protect us.”
ADM also used the platform to highlight the importance of water and its infrastructure in disaster management. Ms. Sisa Msiwa, from ADM Communications, spoke about the ongoing “Zingce – Take Pride” campaign, aimed at curbing vandalism of water and sanitation infrastructure.
“To secure the water and its infrastructure within our communities, vandalism must come to an end” - said Msiwa.
Delivering the keynote address, ADM Acting Executive Mayor Cllr. Kanyile Maneli emphasised the need for adequate resources and improved early warning systems. He cautioned against complacency and highlighted the role of information sharing in disaster readiness.
“How do we manage to avoid the worst outcomes during disasters? Through platforms like these that allow for the dissemination of information, because information leads to better decision making” - concluded Maneli.
