Minister Hlabisa leads G20 Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group Ministerial Outreach
By Communications on September 22, 2025
The Outreach, hosted under South Africa’s G20 Presidency theme of Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability, highlighted the urgent challenges of rising sea levels, intensified storm surges, and coastal erosion faced by cities such as Cape Town.
Joining the Minister was, amongst others, City of Cape Town Deputy Mayor Eddie Andrews, Inkosi Tembe representing the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, NDMC Head, Dr Elias Sithole.
Minister Hlabisa highlighted South Africa’s commitment to advancing global disaster resilience through nature-based and community-driven solutions. He spoke about key initiatives including: Dune rehabilitation projects in KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape; Urban green belts and bioswales in Cape Town; Wetland restoration across coastal provinces.
“These are not isolated projects,” Minister Hlabisa said. “They form part of a national strategy that integrates ecological thinking into urban planning, driven by communities, enriched by indigenous knowledge, and supported by strong partnerships.”
The Minister also commended local programmes such as Safer Places of Worship, Fire Wise, Floodwise, Beating the Heat, and the City of Cape Town Disaster Risk Management Volunteer Programme for empowering communities to act as agents of their own resilience.
The Minister emphasised that disaster resilience is people-centred. Traditional leaders, with their stewardship of land and cultural knowledge, are integral to shaping risk reduction strategies, especially in rural and peri-urban areas.
He further called on G20 partners to strengthen cooperation in technology transfer, climate financing, innovation pilots, and South-South collaboration.
“Let us build a global ecosystem of resilience, where knowledge flows freely, resources are mobilised equitably, and innovation serves the common good,” Minister Hlabisa concluded.