Joint Response Tactical Team leads search and rescue operations in KZN

• Published date: 12 May 2022
• Publication title: South African Official News

Deputy President David Mabuza says government has activated a Joint Response Tactical Team to spearhead search and rescue operations in KwaZulu-Natal in the aftermath of the devastating floods in the province.

The Deputy President said this when he responded to oral questions before a hybrid sitting of National Council of Provinces on Thursday.

'The organs of State, across all spheres of government, have also activated contingency arrangements in line with their respective mandates, and integrated institutional arrangements to deal with the disaster.

'As part of an integrated response to this disaster, government has developed a National Integrated Flood Response and Recovery Plan that outlines the multi-sectoral response and recovery efforts to be implemented by all stakeholders in affected communities,' he said.

The Deputy President said through this plan, government has adopted a three-pronged approach to the disaster response and recovery. This includes:

· Phase 1: Immediate humanitarian relief, to ensure that all affected persons are safe and that their basic needs are met;

· Phase 2: Stabilisation and recovery, which includes rehousing people who have lost homes and restoring provision of services; and

· Phase 3: Reconstruction and rehabilitation, with a focus on 'Building Back Better'.

'In line with this approach, government activated a Joint Response Tactical Team comprising search and rescue specialists from all first responders across public, private and volunteer organisations, in order to spearhead the search and rescue operations, as well as provide humanitarian relief to communities affected by this disaster in KwaZulu-Natal province,' he said.

Mabuza said the team is based at the Virginia Airport, which is located 10 kilometres north east of Durban, and is supported by the South African Police Service Air Wing, and the South African National Defence Force with a variety of resources including aircraft, engineers, as well as water bunkers and tankers to support the provision of basic services to the affected areas.

'As part of the rapid response interventions, the National Disaster Management Centre reported that, as of 30 April, 8 096 people in KwaZulu-Natal were being accommodated in 98 shelters,' he said.

Government implementing rapid response interventions

The Deputy President said the recent floods and heavy rains in the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and some parts of the Eastern Cape, as well as parts of the North West, have brought untold misery and...