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and Development worked closely with the NDMC to establish a stan-

dard generating body for the development of national qualifications

standards in disaster management. SAQA registered the National

Certificate: Disaster Risk Management on Level 7 of the NQF. A learn-

ing programme in Disaster Management on Level 4 was also developed

and registered against the Generic Management qualification on Level

4. Work has been completed on developing a Level 5 and 6 qualifica-

tion to complete the suite of qualifications in disaster management.

Reducing risk

HFA Priority 4 focuses on reducing underlying risk factors. The

Department of Social Development has established a Social Relief of

Distress Programme in terms of the Social Assistance Act, 2004. The

programme provides temporary assistance to people who are unable

to meet their families’ most basic needs. Social Relief of Distress –

in the form of a food voucher or parcel or, in the case of some

provinces, cash – can be obtained from the Government if a person

is in a crisis situation. Social Relief of Distress is usually given for

up to three months, and sometimes for six months.

The Department of Housing has implemented the National

Housing Programme which provides temporary assistance in the

form of secure access to land, basic municipal services and/or shelter.

The programme assists those who have, for reasons beyond their

control, found themselves in an emergency housing situation. It is

only applicable in emergency situations of exceptional housing need.

Assistance under this programme should wherever possible repre-

sent an initial phase towards a permanent housing solution.

Sustainable development is not possible if disasters are continu-

ously damaging infrastructure, property and livelihoods. It is

important that the relationship between disasters and development

is recognized so that proactive action can be taken to eliminate or at

least reduce the impact of disasters.

The cost of a disaster sets back development, since projects are

often delayed due to the diverting of funds. On the other hand, when

disasters occur they provide an opportunity to rebuild ‘smarter’ –

that is, to avoid the likelihood of repetition of the disaster, and to

plan for a sustainable and safe future.

Integrated Development Plans (IDP) are a key tool used by the

South African Government to tackle its new developmental role,

fostering more appropriate service delivery by providing the frame-

work for economic and social development within municipalities

while factoring in disaster reduction measures as part of a disaster

management plan. The IDP process aims to arrive at decisions on key

issues such as municipal budgets, land management, promotion of

local economic development and institutional transformation in a

consultative, systematic and strategic manner. It therefore not only

informs municipal management on key issues, but also guides the

activities of other spheres of government, corporate service providers,

NGOs and the private sector.

Strengthening preparedness

HFA Priority 5 advocates the strengthening of disaster preparedness

for effective response at all levels. South Africa has been involved in

foreign USAR response since 1999 when a volunteer team responded

to the Izmet earthquake in Turkey. South African teams have subse-

quently responded to disasters in Mozambique (2000), India (2001),

Algeria (2003), Iran (2003) and Pakistan (2005). The team has

always been ‘heavy rescue’ capable, meaning that they are able to

stabilize and enter major structural collapses (heavy construction).

In 2005 the NDMC in cooperation with USAID

presented an advanced USAR course to rescue instructors

from throughout South Africa. Since then, more than 90

additional rescuers have been trained.

At present South Africa is the only country in the

SADC region with a USAR capacity, and it has been

improving the system to enable it to respond within

eight hours to disasters occurring outside South Africa.

An important feature of South Africa’s capacity, which

sets it apart from similar international teams, is its ability

to respond to a wider variety of incidents such as floods

and chemical incidents. This was proved during the earth-

quake disaster in Kashmir, Pakistan in 2005 when the

team was used to access victims in the Kashmir moun-

tains and carried out medical operations in a remote field

hospital. More than 100 people were rescued.

The Emergency Operations Committee (EOC), which is

co-chaired by the Department of ForeignAffairs andNDMC,

was established as a result of the Asian Tsunami Disaster in

December 2004 and comprises key role players fromnational

and provincial departments as well as relevant NGOs,

depending on the nature of the disaster. Its purpose is to

coordinate international response to a disaster.

A voice for disaster management practitioners

Disaster Management practitioners in southern Africa can

voluntarily join a professional association called the

Disaster Management Institute of Southern Africa (DMISA).

The majority of South African provincial and municipal

disaster management officials are members of this 22-year

old organization. DMISA functions on a voluntary and non-

profit basis with only one permanent employee – the rest of

its governance structure (Council, Executive Committee and

President) consisting of elected office-bearers that have

full-time disaster management positions.

As the voice of the disaster management professional,

DMISA maintains a close relationship with the South

African National Disaster Management Centre (SA NDMC),

communicating the collective concerns and opinions of

those working in disaster management to the highest

decision-making authorities.

DMISA strives towards continuous professional skills

development in disaster management through nurturing a

culture of disaster risk reduction and advocating

international disaster management best practice, including

the alignment of disaster management practice in southern

Africa with the Hyogo Framework for Action.

DMISA activities provide learning and networking

opportunities for disaster management practitioners and its

annual conference has become a southern Africa disaster

management pilgrimage for many. Training, capacity

building and the development of qualifications standards

for the profession remain a central focus of the Institute in

its engagement with government and other disaster

management role players.

Evolving from civil protection, embracing the focus on

proactive disaster risk reduction and playing an active role

in policy and legislation formulation as well as supporting

members with implementation, DMISA has been able to

raise the visibility and status of the disaster management

profession in southern Africa and commits itself to

continued constructive partnership with the SA NDMC and

international bodies such as the UN/ISDR.