Disaster Management Centre deceives country and government

Declare FMD, water crisis, floods officially as national disasters, demands AfriForum after disaster classification

AfriForum is urgently appealing to Velenkosini Hlabisa, the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, to officially declare foot and mouth disease (FMD), the country’s water crisis and the recent devastating floods in the north of the country as national disasters. The civil rights organisation is further demanding that the necessary regulations be published in the Government Gazette to put in place the full legal mechanisms to effectively combat these crises.

This written request, which AfriForum submitted to the Minister on Wednesday, follows after the National Disaster Management Centre has only classified FMD and the floods as disasters, but has not yet declared it as such. According to AfriForum, the Disaster Management Centre is abusing the classification of a disaster to silence communities and politicians in cases where a disaster should be formally declared.

In terms of Section 23 of the Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002, the classification of a disaster merely acknowledges that a serious situation exists and thereby determines which sphere of government should deal with the matter. In contrast, the declaration of a disaster, as defined by Section 27 of the act, ensures the availability of resources, emergency purchases and funds, among other things.

In contrast to the classification of a disaster, a national disaster declaration is signed by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, after which it is published in the Government Gazette. A disaster declaration is normally valid for three months and is then reviewed. If necessary, it can be reviewed every month. The regulations are published together with the declaration. This time limit of a declared disaster ensures accountability and prevents abuse of the disaster declaration.

According to AfriForum, the Disaster Management Centre has now created a convenient political narrative by giving the impression that a disaster declaration has already been made. Even some government departments and members of the public do not understand the difference between a classification and an official disaster declaration. Moreover, the law does not prescribe how long after disaster classification the declaration thereof must follow. In some cases, the classification of disasters was already done in 2024, but to date has never been officially declared as such.

“Meanwhile, the spreading of FMD is out of control and no further funds, emergency procedures or additional resources can be activated under disaster management legislation – simply because the Minister does not follow up the Disaster Management Centre’s classification with a declared disaster. However, the reality is simpler and more serious. The problem does not lie with the legislation – the law is clear. What lacks is speed, capacity, preparedness, administrative efficiency and discipline of the National Disaster Management Centre to take a more responsible approach with the classification of a disaster,” says Tarien Cooks, Disaster Management Specialist for AfriForum.

Cooks further warns that the current situation currently amounts to misleading the public and government institutions. “The country cannot afford for bureaucratic inertia and political calculation to be considered more important than actual action. A classification alone is not sufficient and the Minister must urgently sign an official declaration.”

The country deserves clarity, transparency and effective leadership – not to be deceived.

• Download the letter and soundbites here.
• Find attached a screenshot of the Department of Agriculture’s announcement on X that foot and mouth disease has been declared a national disaster – proof that government departments don’t know the difference between a disaster classification and declaration.