Ekurhuleni Assess Its Potential Risk to Disasters

Illegal connections, air pollution and the pest infestation topped the list during the community based disaster and risk assessment workshop held for two days in Thembisa.

The workshop was held at Thembisa1 CCC in Rabasotho Section on Tuesday, 13 April 2021 and at Thembisa2 CCC auditorium in Winnie Mandela Section on Wednesday, 14 April 2021.

This follows the 2016 the City of Ekurhuleni through its Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) in compliance with the Disaster Management Act Section 53, conducted a city wide comprehensive community based disaster and risk vulnerability assessment.

The DEMS Northern Region manager, Busisiwe Ndwalane said the purpose was to establish the areas eco system, communities and households that are exposed physical and human in distress.

“The risk assessment revealed that on top of the list is air pollution followed by illegal connections in all the wards,” she said.

Ndwalane said that Ekurhuleni is conducting these assessments across the City.

“After the City has collected these data from its residents, it will formulated an efficient strategy to deal with disaster and risk in the region. All the points made by the participants will be considered when the final strategy is done,” she said.