Pretoria Disaster Management Disastrous

Persverklaring: Raadslid Clive Napier 11 April 2008
Media Release: Councillor Clive Napier 11 April 2008

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has released an earnest warning that Pretoria is not geared to react in the event should a disaster struck the city tomorrow.
Although the National Disaster Management Framework for the entire country was gazetted in April 2005 already, the Tshwane municipality only has a Municipal Disaster Risk Management Framework in place.
This is only a policy document aimed to ‘ensure an integrated, co-ordinated and uniform approach to disaster risk management in the municipality.’
The next phase that needs to be introduced is a public participation process. When will this commence one may ask, and how long will it take before decisions are taken on who is expected to do what with what means, in which manner to ensure speedy and effective reaction to disastrous events
Councillor (DA) Clive Napier said:” This is a disaster itself. The Tshwane Metro Council clearly doesn’t grasp the gravity of the situation.”
Napier added:” A disaster can strike any suburb at any given time with disastrous consequences.”
Pretoria is a high density city with complex infrastructure features with among other a matrix of road networks carrying heavy traffic with ample incident possibilities. In addition one must bear in mind the air traffic in the sky which constantly poses the possibility of an aircraft plunging to the ground. Over the elements of nature nobody has control and water, fire, wind can instantaneously become man’s worse nightmare.
The DA is calling on the Metro Council to face its responsibility with regard to Disaster Management before it is to late. Prevention is always better than cure.
If proper structures, capable of attending to disasters rapidly, is not put in place soon, the City Council will be culpable if human loss and damage is resulted by a disaster in which ever form.
The DA demands action on this issue and is calling on the ANC lead Council to stop tempting fate.

Councillor Clive Napier (082 827 5578)