The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional AIairs (CoGTA), Mr Velenkosini Hlabisa, will lead the national commemoration of the 2026 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDR) in Mpumalanga. The National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) is hosting the commemoration, in collaboration with the Mpumalanga Provincial Government and strategic stakeholders.
The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction is commemorated annually on 13th October to promote public awareness of disaster risks, strengthen preparedness and build resilient communities. The 2026 commemoration will be held under the theme, “Resilience starts at home: Building Resilient Communities Through Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Action.” The 2026 theme recognises the growing impact of climate variability, environmental degradation and socio-economic vulnerabilities on communities. It also highlights the importance of empowering households and communities to anticipate, prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters.
The two-day national programme, taking place on 13th and 14th October 2026, will bring together approximately 500 participants, including representatives from all spheres of government, traditional leaders, municipalities, disaster management practitioners, academia, civil society, development partners, humanitarian organisations, youth and women’s organisations, organisations representing persons with disabilities and private sector partners.
The programme will include a Technical Practitioners’ Session on 13th October 2026, followed by the Political Commemoration on 14 October 2026. As part of the Political Programme, delegates will visit the Mpumalanga International Food Market and the Tekwane South Bridge, aIected by the January 2026 floods, to appreciate the progress made to date. The selected projects demonstrate practical approaches to building resilience through infrastructure support and food security initiatives. The national event will also be preceded by awareness activities at identified communities in Mpumalanga to promote disaster risk awareness, preparedness and resilience among young people.
The 2026 commemoration comes against the backdrop of increasing climate-related and other disaster risks, including floods, droughts, veld fires, severe storms and extreme temperatures. These events continue to aIect communities, livelihoods, infrastructure and economic activity. The commemoration will provide an opportunity to strengthen collaboration among government, communities, academia, civil society and the private sector, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015– 2030, the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the Disaster Management Act, 2002, and the National Disaster Management Framework.
The programme will also highlight the importance of household preparedness, early warning systems and community participation in reducing disaster risks. As the theme emphasises, resilience starts at home, with informed and prepared households playing an important role in protecting lives, livelihoods and communities.
The commemoration is expected to strengthen public understanding of disaster risks and climate change impacts, promote inclusive participation in disaster risk reduction initiatives and reinforce the importance of preparedness, early warning and community resilience.
Members of the media are invited to cover the event as follows:
Date: 14 October 2026
Part I: Disaster Risk Reduction Projects
Venue: Mpumalanga International Food Market
Time: 8h00
Part II:
Venue: Tekwane South Bridge
Time: 09h30
Part III : National Commemoration of the IDDR
Venue: Anew Resort White River, Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Time: 11h00
Ends –
For media enquiries, kindly contact:
Ms Pearl Maseko-Binqose
Media Liaison OIicer to the Minister of CoGTA
082 772 1709
Mr Legadima Leso
Head of COGTA Communications
066 479 9904
Issued by the Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional AIairs