A critical analysis of the South African Disaster Management Act and Policy Framework

Bibliographic Data

ID3898780
AuthorsDewald Van Niekerk (0000-0002-4571-4205, Director, African Centre for Disaster Studies North‐West University Potchefstroom South Africa, corresponding author)
Year2014
Volume38
Issue4
Pages858-877
Publication date2014-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueDisasters (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0361-3666 • E-ISSN: 1467-7717
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/disa.12081
PMID25196341
OpenAlexW1991479635
LanguageEN
Citations received15
References cited15

The promulgation of the South African Disaster Management Act No. 57 of 2002 and the National Disaster Management Policy Framework of 2005 placed South Africa at the international forefront by integrating disaster risk reduction into all spheres of government through a decentralised approach. Yet, good policy and legislation do not necessarily translate into good practice. This paper provides a critical analysis of the Act and Policy Framework. Using qualitative research methods, it analyses the attitudes and perceptions of senior public officials on all levels of government, the private sector and academia. The study finds that one of the weakest aspects of the Act and Framework is the absence of clear guidance to local municipalities. The placement of the disaster risk management function on all tiers of government remains problematic, funding is inadequate and overall knowledge and capacities for disaster risk reduction are insufficient

Agency (philosophy · Business · Disaster risk reduction · Economic growth · Economics · Emergency management · Environmental health · Government (linguistics · Legislation · Poison control · Political science · Private sector · Promulgation · Public policy · Risk management · Sociology · Disaster Management and Resilience · Disaster Response and Management · Law · Medicine · Public Administration · Finance