WORDS DEFINED

What is the National State of Disaster͍

The 2002 Disaster Management Act facilitates co-ordination, mitigation and recovery following a disaster, defined as a “natural or human-caused occurrence that causes disease, damage to property infrastructure or the environment or disruption of the life of a community”. In a national disaster, Section 26 of the act makes the national executive “primarily responsible” for coordinating measures for the mitigation, prevention and recovery and rehabilitation from disaster. How is the State of Disaster declared?

In terms of Section 27 of the Disaster Management Act, it’s the co-operative governance minister.

The president under Section 4(1) establishes, in the case of a national disaster declaration, an intergovernmental committee on disaster management to co-ordinate efforts. The president chairs this committee.

Section 27(2) allows the issuing of regulations that not only provide relief to affected persons but also for the control in the affected areas of the movement of people and goods, the provision, use or control of emergency accommodation and the sale of alcohol.

A national State of Disaster lasts three months. However, the co-operative governance minister may cut it short at any time. A national State of Disaster may be extended one month at a time

Daily Maverick By Marianne Merten• 19 March 2020