The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Mr Velenkosini Hlabisa, will lead a G20 Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group (DRR WG) Ministerial Outreach in Soweto on Saturday, 28 June 2025. The Minister will be joined by the Gauteng COGTA Executives, the Executives of the City of Johannesburg.

This important outreach forms part of the 2025 Winter Disaster Risk Awareness Campaign Launch, taking place under South Africa’s chairship of the G20. It aligns with the G20 DRR Workstream focus areas, including, early warning systems; disaster risk financing and infrastructure resilience.

This outreach is important as winter poses significant risks for residents living in informal settlements, backyard dwellings, communal housing, and unregulated high-rise buildings. The dangers of extreme cold, fire outbreaks, and unsafe heating methods have already led to tragic incidents. This outreach is thus important to:

1. Promote disaster awareness and resilience among at-risk communities

2. Raise public awareness of winter-related hazards.

3. Equip communities with knowledge and tools to reduce risk.

4. Reduce the frequency and impact of winter-related disasters such as shack fires.

5. Encourage proactive disaster preparedness.

6. Strengthen community-based and intergovernmental collaboration.

The outreach will feature:

· A door-to-door campaign led by Minister Hlabisa, the Provincial and local executives

· Community engagement through an interactive exhibition area to educate and empower residents

· On-the-ground activation of disaster risk preparedness teams.

Members of the media are invited to cover the outreach campaign scheduled to take place as follows:

Date: 28 June 2025

Time: 09h30

Venue: Meeting place is the Kliptown Youth Community Hall

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Enquiries:

Ms. Pearl Maseko-Binqose

Media Liaison Officer for the Minister of COGTA

+27 (82) 772 1709

Mr. Legadima Leso

COGTA Head of Communications

+27 (66) 479 9904

Issued by the Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

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