Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning

11. It is indeed correct that the recent severe weather systems have caused widespread disruption across the Western Cape, affecting more than 100,000 residents. The impact has been particularly severe in vulnerable communities, including those living in rural and hard-to-reach areas.

      At the outset, I wish to assure this House that the Department of Local Government, through its Provincial Disaster Management Centre, has adopted a proactive, coordinated, and risk-informed approach to ensure that municipalities across both metropolitan and rural areas are able to respond effectively and provide support to those most in need.

The Department is supporting all municipalities through planning, funding, capacity building, operational assistance, and coordinated humanitarian relief, ensuring that both metro and rural municipalities can effectively assist vulnerable residents.

Preparedness and Planning

Planning remains the cornerstone of effective disaster management. As early as February 2026, the Western Cape Disaster Management Centre initiated comprehensive winter preparedness processes across the province. Municipalities at the metro, district, and local levels were required to develop and submit detailed Winter Readiness Plans, which outlined risks, mitigation strategies, and response measures.

These plans were carefully reviewed and consolidated at the provincial level and subsequently submitted to the National Disaster Management Centre, ensuring alignment across all three spheres of government. In addition, the Province continues to operate under a Preparedness, Response and Recovery Plan, which provides a clear and structured framework for responding to disasters such as flooding, storms, and infrastructure disruption. This level of preparation ensures that municipalities are not simply reacting to disasters but are better positioned to anticipate and manage them effectively.

Early Warning Systems and Risk-Based Decision-Making

A central element of this approach is the use of early warning systems and impact-based risk assessments. Through close collaboration with the South African Weather Service, municipalities receive real-time severe weather warnings that are translated into practical, actionable guidance.

These warnings enable all municipalities to take preventative steps such as activating disaster operations centres, pre-positioning emergency resources, issuing alerts to communities, and implementing measures to reduce risks before conditions deteriorate.

The department ensured that all municipalities are briefed on the early warning and understand the impact of the expected weather through early warning briefings, and continuous updates were shared via official and other platforms.

School Closures: Protecting Vulnerable Learners

A clear example of this risk-based and preventative approach is the implementation of school closures during the May 2026 severe weather events.

Schools in the Cape Winelands and Overberg districts were closed on 6 May 2026 and again on 11 May 2026, while a province-wide closure of all schools was implemented on 12 May 2026.

These decisions were based on detailed learner risk profiling conducted by the Western Cape Disaster Management Centre, which considered factors such as flooding risks, unsafe transport routes, and potential infrastructure damage. Based on this evidence, recommendations were made to the Western Cape Education Department in consultation with the affected municipalities, ensuring that decisions were taken in the best interest of the safety and well-being of learners, educators, and school communities, particularly those in high-risk and vulnerable areas.

Strengthening Municipal Capacity

A key priority of the Department is to ensure that all municipalities, and especially those in rural and under-resourced areas, have the necessary capacity to respond effectively to disasters.

A Disaster Management Learning Programme is currently being rolled out across the province. This programme equips municipal officials with practical skills in disaster risk assessment, response coordination, and recovery planning. It plays a critical role in strengthening the institutional capacity of municipalities, particularly at the district level.

Western Cape Disaster Management Centre provides ongoing direct operational support to all municipalities. This includes assisting with risk assessments, the development of a disaster management plan, supporting the activation of disaster operations centres, and deploying resources, provincial personnel and expertise where local capacity is constrained.

While the metro is more capacitated, it is recognised that rural municipalities often face challenges such as limited human and financial resources, vast geographic areas, and difficult terrain that may limit access to communities. The Department has provided direct funding support to district municipalities to enhance their human resource capacity. Each district municipality has been enabled to appoint two Disaster Management interns, who support key functions such as coordination, planning, data collection, and reporting. These interns also assist in strengthening operational readiness during periods of heightened risk, such as severe weather events. This intervention is especially valuable in rural municipalities where staffing capacity is often limited.

Operational Readiness and Resource Mobilisation

The Province ensured that resources are proactively mobilised and strategically positioned across all regions. Air support was provided through helicopter assets from the Department of Health and Wellness, as well as provincial helicopter resources across the province. Drone technology is also utilised to conduct rapid assessments in areas that are difficult to access.

Water and mountain rescue operations are strengthened through the pre-positioning of emergency medical services, municipal teams, and specialised search and rescue units. The SAPS Water Wing was deployed, while National Sea Rescue Institute stations have been placed on high alert, supported by additional swift water rescue teams.

On the ground, 4x4 rapid-response units were deployed to reach remote areas, while Disaster Operations Centres were activated in affected districts. Urban Search and Rescue teams remained on standby, and continuous monitoring of roads and mountain passes took place. Eskom rapid-response units were pre-positioned to restore electricity, and measures were in place to ensure continuity of healthcare services through backup power systems.

These interventions ensured that even the most isolated communities were able to receive assistance when needed.

Partnerships

Government works closely with a range of partners to strengthen response capacity across the Province. These include organisations such as the National Sea Rescue Institute, Lifesaving Western Cape, and Search and Rescue South Africa, as well as various non-governmental and volunteer organisations.

These partnerships are particularly important in rural areas. For example, Search and Rescue South Africa has played a critical role in delivering humanitarian aid to communities in areas such as the Cederberg, where access has been limited due to damaged infrastructure. Their specialised vehicles and capabilities enable them to reach areas that would otherwise be inaccessible.

Support to Vulnerable Residents

At the centre of all these efforts is the need to ensure that vulnerable residents receive direct and timely support.

The Humanitarian Cluster, led by the Department of Social Development, coordinates the provision of emergency shelter, food relief, and social support services. Municipalities are supported through needs assessments, which ensure that vulnerable households are identified quickly and accurately.

They are also assisted in accessing provincial resources and coordinating with non-governmental organisations to extend the reach of humanitarian assistance. This ensures that support is targeted effectively and reaches even those communities that are difficult to access.

Response to the Recent Severe Weather Events

Following the recent storms, the Western Cape Disaster Management Centre worked closely with all affected municipalities to coordinate response and relief efforts.

These efforts included evacuations from high-risk areas, search and rescue operations, the coordination of emergency shelter, and the restoration of essential services. Eskom’s efforts in restoring electricity under extremely challenging conditions are also acknowledged.

Disaster Classification: Enabling a Stronger Response

The severe weather events experienced between 5 and 13 May 2026 were formally classified as national disasters in terms of the Disaster Management Act.

This classification plays an important role in enabling coordinated action across all spheres of government, including municipalities. It also allows for the reprioritisation of budgets and resources and facilitates access to funding mechanisms required for recovery and reconstruction efforts.

Recovery and Rehabilitation

While the immediate response phase has concluded, recovery and rehabilitation efforts remain ongoing. These efforts are focused on restoring infrastructure, reinstating essential services, supporting municipalities in rebuilding, and assisting communities to return to normal functioning.

The Department has deployed a multi-sectoral team to assist municipalities in assessing and verifying the extent of damage across the province. This process represents a critical first step in enabling targeted and effective recovery interventions.

Municipalities, particularly those in rural areas, continue to receive sustained provincial support throughout this process.

Conclusion

The recent severe weather events have once again demonstrated the importance of preparedness, strong intergovernmental coordination, investment in municipal capacity, and a whole-of-society approach.