DRMC celebrates more than 65 000 volunteer hours

02 December 2024

The City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management Centre (DRMC) held their 12th Annual Volunteer Awards evening this weekend. At the prestigious event, they tipped their hat to their  corp of volunteers who contributed a staggering 65 697 hours in support of the DRMC.

‘DRM plays a critical role not only in public safety, but also in co-ordinating the City’s response to disasters. While they often respond after an incident, the centre proactively drives awareness programmes, workshops and other interventions to help educate communities to become more robust.

‘Volunteers are essential to the work of the DRMC. From assisting officials at ensuring safety at events and facilities, to risk assessments, and co-ordinating serves and activating responders, volunteers help keep the wheels turning,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.

A total of 37 recipients received long service awards.

Among these are 25-year service recipients Sanepter de Bruin and Juanita le Roux from Atlantis; and Tina Langley and Basil Langley from Ottery.

In addition, awards were given in the following categories:
• Most hours in a calendar year – Tristan Kilian from Milnerton (1 076 hours)
• Assistant Unit Leader of the year   - Tristian Kilian from Milnerton
• Unit Leader of the year – Paul Newman from Ottery
• Unit of the year – Ottery Volunteer Unit
• Volunteer of the year – Tristan Kilian from Milnerton

Certificates of Commendation were given to Ameer Rhode, Jamal Solomons and Lee-Roy Trout.

A dozen new recruits received the nod for Rookie of the Year 2023/4 . They are:

•  Atlantis - Yolanda Ellis
• Athlone - Chad Crowley
• Fish Hoek – Thula Mejeni
• Khayelitsha – Phike Sisanda
• Macassar –Shaun Christians
• Melton Rose – Eldron Windvogel
• Mitchells Plain – Adrian Carelse
• Ottery – Esmerelda de Klerk
• Scottsdene – Lindelwa Nobethe
• Strand – Gino Mathysen
• Belhar – Carlo Blankenberg
• Melkbos – DJ Viergever

A full list of recipients is available here: https://bit.ly/3Z3hcbu

During the last financial year, DRMC recruited 107 new volunteers.

In the last quarter of that year (April to June), they completed 25 emergency exercises/drills and 149 public safety, awareness and preparedness sessions in various communities.

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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office