Stakeholders boost Region C disaster management
03 February 2016
The Disaster Management Advisory Sub Forum was established in the City of Johannesburg’s Region C, in order to sharpen the region’s disaster management preparedness. The forum has made significant progress since its inception a year ago.
The forum, launched in January 2015 following an extensive brainstorming session involving representatives of various stakeholders on how best to prepare for disasters, is the first of its kind in Johannesburg.
It brings together community leaders, residents, private companies, non-governmental organisations, the South African Police Service (SAPS), Emergency Management Services (EMS), Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD), community policing forums, neighbourhood watch committees and representatives of government departments and agencies.
Region C includes areas such as Bramfischerville, Thulani, Roodepoort, Boskruin, Ruimsig, Constantia Kloof, Weltevreden Park, Florida, Helderkruin, Princess, Allen's Nek and Cosmo City.
Led by an interim committee under the chairmanship of Florida businessman and co-founder Ebrahim Hoosen, the advisory forum is constituted in line with the City’s Disaster Management Unit and the National Disaster Management Act.
Supported by an army of volunteers, the forum has already initiated two major projects to ensure that the region is fully prepared for any disaster. These involve the numbering of houses and drawing up of a database of Emergency Response Role Players and the location of fire hydrants.
“We have adopted a proactive approach to disaster management to mitigate any risks,” says Hoosen.
After its establishment, the forum realised that emergency personnel – fire fighters and ambulance drivers – faced major challenges when responding to calls for help because the houses were not properly numbered. In terms of the City’s by-laws, every house should be visibly numbered. Failure to comply carries a fine.
In August last year the forum embarked on a pilot project that saw more than 100 houses being numbered. The project is to continue this year. The drawing up of a fire hydrant database is considered one of the forum’s top priorities.
“The Florida fire station has a huge challenge in locating fire hydrants during fires. Ageing infrastructure and the lack of records play a major role in the inability of emergency personnel to locate them. With the help of Dorcas Aid, we hope to run a competition for community members to spot a hydrant and win a price. A cellphone app is in the final stages of development and we will use the app to record that information on the database,” says Hoosen, whose background is in marine disaster management.
He has also designed a one-page tailor-made template for risk assessment across the board – from old age homes to informal settlements.
Educational programmes have also been planned to raise disaster management awareness among various communities. The forum recently produced a pocket-size directory of all emergency numbers for the community. The region is also home to Sasol natural gas and Transnet petroleum pipelines.
Hoosen says it is important to educate the public on what to do in the event of a disaster. The forum encourages communities to volunteer their services. Already, 39 volunteers have registered for Region C.
The most exciting development related to fire hydrants was the acceptance of a motion forwarded at the November 2015 City Council meeting by Ward Councillor, Gert Niemand (Ward 71, co-founder of the forum) and Ward Councillor Suzanne Clarke (Ward 83).
Other forum committee members are Annette Reed (founding member), Nerine Niemand (convenor), Lucia Maloka (City’s volunteer co-ordinator), Thembi Mosia (City’s Disaster Management Unit) and Yolande Janse van Rensburg (CRUM, Region C).
Residents wishing to join the volunteer squad can contact Lucia Maloka on 0829682066 or LuciaMal@joburg.co.za for more information.