SALGA-ASSAf seminar on disaster risk management, fire & emergency services capabilities assessment of municipalities

Abstract

In partnership with the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), ASSAf hosted a seminar to discuss the output of research commissioned by SALGA. The research sought to determine the ability of municipalities – across all municipal categories – to perform functions in relation to disaster management, fire services and emergency services. The work was a “deep-dive” analysis to obtain a detailed understanding of the challenges faced by municipalities, and to describe the essential elements of “best practice” and how the elements interact as a complex adaptive system.

The purpose of the seminar of Friday 26 November, was to engage with the academic community in providing details of the research (including the findings and recommendations), to raise awareness of this research and to afford an opportunity for engagement and further deliberation on the findings and recommendations. The intended primary outcomes of this event were to:

1) Provide a deepened understanding of the challenges faced by local municipalities;

2) Foster increased engagement or development of new partnerships with SALGA to support their efforts in supporting local municipalities;

3) Encourage targeted and informed research, incorporating the disaster management assessment, by the academic community to further support SALGA; and

4) Support for SALGA from the academic community through access to current knowledge and research.