Several ministers of the new seventh administration have signified the severity of the climate crises facing South Africa.

On Monday 15 July, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, during her address as the minister responsible for the State Security Agency (SSA), referred to climate change as one of the most pressing issues threatening our national security. “Climate change, energy, food and water security, among others, are global problems that continue to threaten national security,” she said, adding further that “how the country and the world respond to this will have an impact on global security.”

Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Angie Motshekga used her opening remarks during the Defence department budget vote to highlight the ongoing Welisizwe Rural Bridges Programme as a “tangible [example] of the humanitarian support and emergency relief that we bring to our country’s most vulnerable communities.”

Minister Motshekga further added that her department has entered a Memorandum of Understanding with the department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), to co-operate on disaster management. The Minister sought to “reassure the House of the SANDF’s continued willingness to assist with disaster relief and humanitarian operations for the people of this country, when tasked.”

The Chief of the South African National Defence Force, General Rudzani Maphwanya, first mentioned the SANDF’s intention to establish a dedicated disaster response unit during his 2023 Armed Force’s Day address in Richard’s Bay, but stated that the unit would need dedicated resources and could not continue to use collateral assets for disaster management.

Defence Expert Helmoed Heitmann stated that “storms are a reality and will be with us in any event, and there will be cycles of particularly nasty weather. The SANDF is a valuable resource for those situations.” He noted that the most vital elements for disaster response “are command and control systems, communication and organised groups of people, all things the defence force has.”

COGTA Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa spoke of the “increase in various types of disaster events across our country,” during his budget speech, acknowledging the critical role COGTA has played in recent disaster response incidents, notably the floods and fires “currently devastating communities in the Cape Metro and Kwa-Zulu Natal.”

Hlabisa sought to emphasise lives could only be saved through urgent intervention, highlighting the need for a “new system” to address disasters effectively. Stressing the urgency of such a need, the minister said “South Africa has experienced not only an increase in the number of disasters, such as droughts, floods, COVID-19, and severe weather, but also an increase in their magnitude, severity, and impact. These events have occurred either simultaneously or in rapid succession, straining our resources and systems.”

Among the issues prohibiting effective disaster response, according to Minister Hlabisa, was the “deficiencies in regulatory legislation, which is not designed to adapt to the ever-changing risk environment.” Noting that these legislative challenges had lead to issues with timing and bureaucracy.

The “new system” which the Minister proposed, would be responsible for disaster management and fire services, aimed at improving governance issues by “reorganizing administrative structures and financing models to better respond to growing disaster risks.” Minister Hlabisa added that a new model had been developed based on observed best practices from New Zealand, Russia, Brazil, Mozambique, California, and Australia.

“The new model emphasizes risk reduction and integrates disaster management into all levels of government planning, ensuring adequate funding and focus on resilience.” An implementation plan has already been developed, hoping to effectively implement the necessary training.