Minister Hlabisa shared his reflections following the technical presentations at the Review of the Disaster Management System workshop. The Minister welcomed the inputs made by the NDMC, SALGA, and the SANDF, noting that they demonstrated both expertise and a strong foundation for shaping a future-ready disaster management model.

The Minister emphasised that while debates on whether disaster management should be housed as a government entity or a public entity are important, the immediate priority is to strengthen the system within government to ensure agility and urgent responsiveness to the growing risks posed by climate change. “We are living in a period of climate change. We need a disaster management system that is agile as early as yesterday,” he said.

Minister Hlabisa reflected on the importance of clear structures and a centralised command point. “Sometimes delays of two to three days simply because approvals are not aligned can cost lives. A system where you ‘press one button’ for action may be more eNective,” he said.

“How do we unlock the scenario where government is willing but unable to intervene because of financial constraints?” he asked, calling for innovative solutions to ensure that disaster response is not delayed by procurement bottlenecks or funding shortages.

Despite these concerns, Minister Hlabisa expressed confidence in the quality of the work presented and the expertise of those leading the review.

The Minister concluded by assuring all in attendance that COGTA will continue working closely with all partners to finalise a disaster management framework that delivers faster response times, overcomes financial barriers, and ultimately saves lives