Notice No. 107

13 February 2018

GG 41439

Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs

I, Dr Mmaphaka Tau, in my capacity as Head of the National Disaster Management Centre, after consultation with the relevant Provincial Disaster Management Centres, and after reassessing the magnitude and severity of the ongoing drought occurring in at least three provinces in the country, hereby give notice that the National Disaster Management Centre on 08 February 2018 in terms of section 23(3) of the Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002) (the Act), reclassified the drought as a national disaster.

Emanating from the reclassification of this occurrence as a national disaster, in terms of section 26, read with section 23 of the Act, the primary responsibility to coordinate and manage the disaster, in terms of existing legislation and contingency arrangements, is designated to the national executive.

I hereby, in terms of Section 15(2)(aA) of the Act, call upon organs of state (section 23(8)) to strengthen and support the disaster management structures to implement contingency plans and ensure that immediate relief, recovery and reconstruction measures are put in place to enable the national executive to effectively deal with the effects of this disaster.

Also emanating from this reclassification and the assistance provided by organs of state in terms of Section 23(8) and Sections 15(2)(aA) of the Act, organs of state are required to prepare and submit reports, as required by the National Disaster Management Centre and as outlined in Section 24(4)-(8) of the Act, to the respective intergovernmental forums as listed therein.

Dr Mmaphaka Tau

National Disaster Management Centre

Department of Cooperative Governance

Date: 08.02.2018