On Tuesday, 27 May 2025, the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) conducted an oversight visit to the Amajuba District Municipality’s Disaster Management Centre. The visit aimed to evaluate the Centre’s operational functionality, institutional capacity, and adherence to disaster management legislation.
As readers will recall, the centre has made the news on more than one occassion and not for good reason.
Initially budgeted at R36 million and intended to be operational years ago, it faced significant delays and challenges. Construction began in 2015, yet the Centre remained incomplete and non-operational as late as 2023, despite substantial investment. These delays have been attributed to issues such as contractor disputes, financial constraints, and operational setbacks, which have hindered the Centre’s ability to meet its mandate.
The ongoing lack of a fire engine and dedicated firefighting personnel across the district exacerbates vulnerabilities, particularly given the region’s susceptibility to veld fires and other emergencies. In 2021, the Centre was reported as inactive, with no staff or equipment to handle disasters, further highlighting the prolonged struggle to operationalis the facility.
Nevertheless, the oversight commenced with a walkabout of the Centre, enabling the Portfolio Committee to inspect its infrastructure, operational facilities, and preparedness for disaster management.
Discussing the oversight visit, the Amajuba District Municipality’s Communications Unit highlighted that the Committee commended the proactive procurement of essential relief materials in anticipation of the upcoming winter season. “Furthermore, ongoing training on the Single Input Multiple Output (SIMO) reporting system is underway, aimed at improving response coordination and streamlining incident reporting between Local Municipalities (LMs) and the District,” emphasised the Communications Unit.
Despite these advancements, a significant deficiency persists in fire and rescue services. The Amajuba District Municipality currently lacks its own fire engine, and most local municipalities within the district are without dedicated firefighting personnel. “This shortfall places significant pressure on the district’s ability to manage emergency incidents effectively,” stressed the Communications Unit.
The visit also highlighted the urgent need to address the operational shortcomings of the Disaster Management Unit in Dannhauser Local Municipality, where capacity constraints continue to hinder effective spatial response coverage across the district.
In contrast, encouraging progress was noted in both eMadlangeni (Utrecht) and Newcastle municipalities, particularly in enhancing incident reporting and intergovernmental coordination.
Key discussions centred on timelines for filling vacancies, managing infrastructure expenditure, and bolstering emergency response capacity. While structural concerns, including the build quality and ongoing maintenance of the Centre, were acknowledged, the primary focus was the pressing need to enhance fire and rescue services and ensure full compliance with the Disaster Management Act.
The Portfolio Committee underscored the importance of sustained oversight and pledged to monitor progress on the issues raised. A follow-up visit is scheduled to evaluate progress and address any outstanding gaps.
The path forward for the Amajuba Disaster Management Centre hinges on sustained commitment to overcoming its longstanding challenges.
The recent oversight visit signals a renewed focus on accountability and progress, with the Portfolio Committee’s recommendations poised to guide strategic improvements. Prioritising the acquisition of a fire engine, hiring dedicated firefighting personnel, and resolving capacity issues in Dannhauser will be critical to ensuring the Centre fulfills its mandate effectively.
Continued collaboration between the Amajuba District Municipality, local municipalities, and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs is essential to sustain momentum. The scheduled follow-up visit offers a vital opportunity to assess advancements and ensure that the Centre evolves into a fully operational hub capable of safeguarding the district against disasters.
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One Response
This just cannot be true ! After all the negligence of other facilities and roads and what have you, we have to discover there is no fire engine ! Surprised there is still a police station – or is there ?