KZN govt launches summer disaster risk reductions awareness campaign

The KwaZulu-Natal provincial government has launched a summer disaster risk reduction awareness campaign ahead of the rainy season, which may cause some damage in parts of the province. 

The effort is in a bid to curb weather incidents and to help with responding accordingly should a crisis arise.

Since 2021, over 500 people have been killed in weather-related disasters in KZN, including floods, thunderstorms and veld fires.

Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli officiated the ceremony in Harding, south of the province on Monday.

"We’ve seen that where bodies were burnt into ashes because of the veld fires, we’ve also seen where livestock's been livestock was burnt into ashes because of the veld fires - it is enough now."

Ntuli urged all the 54 municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal to prioritise disaster relief funds when tabling their budgets.

"We’re making a call today to our municipalities to ensure that when they budget, they budget sufficient budget in the limited resources that they have. They must set aside an amount that will be able to reduce to risk of disasters."