Disaster Management Bill Summary of Concerns

1
Disaster Management BillSummary of Concerns

• General concerns
• Comments that cover more than one section of the
  Bill, as well as those not already incorporated.
• Specific concerns

2
General Concerns

• 1. Process issues
• 2. Mismatch between White Paper and Bill
• 3. Financial implications of the Bill, including
  issues of unfunded mandate at municipal sphere
• 3. Social context for disaster occurrence and
• links between disaster mgmt/development

3
General issues continued...

• 5. Role of citizens, volunteers and participatory
  engagement of communities
• 6. Role of traditional leaders and indigenous
  knowledge.
• 7. Issues around centres cf structures at
  provincial and local spheres
• 8. Issues around definitions.
• 9. Other issues

4
Process issues

• Concern that Bill does not adequately reflect
  priorities identified in White Paper.
• Limited stakeholder consultation/feedback between
  White Paper and formulation of Billand between
  1st/2nd versions of the Bill.

5
Mismatch Betw. White Paper and
Bill

• One NDMC, structures
• Role of W.P. as policy
• Rationale for declaring a disaster
• Developmental thrust to reduce risk
• Ltd focussmall/medium disasters
• Emphasis on training

• Centres in 3 spheres
• Role of Framework
• Geographic distinction for disasters
• Activities carried out by centres
• Focus on large events
• Section omitted

6
Financial Implications of the Bill

• Issues specifically around unfunded mandate for
  establishing a disaster management centre in each
  metropolitan and district municipality.
• Also issues around punitive measures in releasing
  relief monies if preventive steps were not taken
  in advance of a disaster

7
Social context for disaster occurrence

• Need to locate disaster vulnerability in a social
  context
• Reorientation of Bill towards benefits to people
  and sustainable development
• Need to identify special risk groups known to be
  most exposed (ie women, children)

8
Role of citizens, volunteers and engagement of
communities

• Limited engagement of citizens in planning and
  shared risk reduction
• Need to give greater priority to volunteers,
  including insurance cover
• Need for targeted training, education and
  capacity-building for at-risk groups.

9
Role of Traditional Leaders

• No mention of traditional leaders and role they
  play in their communities
• No mention of indigenous knowledge and its role
  in disaster management

10
Centres cf Structures

• Requirement for centres at all levels, but,
• capacities of prov/local authorities to staff
  these centres
• funding does not currently exist for expansion of
  local dm centres
• lack of clarity as to how these centres would
  operate/be organised

11
Definitions

• Disaster
• ? Specify types of events that the Bill handles
• Need to rework many definitions and include
  others for clarity