Strengthening disaster response system needs clear legislation: CoGTA


Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Prince Zolile Burns-Ncamashe, says strengthening South Africa’s disaster-response systems requires clear legislation and well-coordinated emergency capabilities.  

He was speaking on the final day of the five-day Africa–Europe–Middle East Earthquake Response Exercise in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape. 

The simulation brought together disaster-management specialists, international search-and-rescue teams and humanitarian partners to test their readiness for large-scale emergencies.  

Burns-Ncamashe says aligning policy and legislative frameworks with modern disaster risks is essential to ensure teams can respond with speed and precision. 

The Director of EMS Eastern Cape Province, Ashok Munilal says the EMS plans to deal with emergency situations that might arise during the natural disasters.

“We are here to rub shoulders with foreign countries so that we will be able to learn from them as well and also share some ideas so that we will be able to implement them in the Eastern Cape.”