Disaster Risk Management blown away by 200% increase in weather-related incidents
14 March 2025
With the prevailing damaging winds across many parts of the province, a review of the six months between July and December shows that the City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre coordinated responses to more than 30 000 weather-related incidents – a 200% increase compared to the previous year. Fires, too, increased.
The Disaster Risk Management Centre works to mitigate the risk of weather or man-made impacts, and to drive any response in the wake of such impacts.
July to December 2024 saw an increase in formal and informal residential fires as well as weather-related incidents.
The number of homes affected decreased during the period in review.
| | July – Dec 2023 | July – Dec 2024 | % Difference |
| Formal residential fires | 212 | 349 | 64,6 ↑ |
| Informal residential fires | 1 145 | 1 269 | 10,8 ↑ |
| Structures affected | 2 551 | 2 082 | 18,4 ↓ |
| Storm-related incidents | 11 011 | 33 098 | 200,6 ↑ |
The Disaster Risk Management Centre works to mitigate the risk of weather or man-made impacts
The Disaster Risk Management Centre works to mitigate the risk of weather or man-made impacts
The Disaster Risk Management Centre works to mitigate the risk of weather or man-made impacts
The Disaster Risk Management Centre works to mitigate the risk of weather or man-made impacts
‘Nearly 90 000 people required assistance during the six month period in 2024 – triple that of the previous year, and we commend the Disaster Risk Management Centre, NGOs and other partners who stepped up. However, the current model is unsustainable. When SASSA decided to take direct control of humanitarian relief seven years ago, we raised a concern that it would slow down the provision of aid to those in need during times of disaster. That is exactly what has transpired. The City believes that the decentralisation of aid provision will allow municipalities to act more swiftly and decisively in times of need,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Ald JP Smith.
The City’s Winter Readiness Task Team has been meeting bi-weekly since February, to coordinate mitigation measures before the seasons change.
The Disaster Risk Management Advisory Forum, which meets quarterly - will receive a seasonal outlook briefing from the South African Weather Service at its next meeting later this month, to further inform planning and mitigation before winter arrives.
‘Last winter proved one of our most challenging on record. The City is doing all it can to mitigate the potential impacts this year. I do, however, want to urge the public to put in the work too, to ensure that their properties and environment are adequately secured. We also ask that they support the City’s donation drives to supplement aid provision, which will be announced in due course. I think it is fair to say that effective risk mitigation and responses will benefit us all,’ said Alderman Smith.
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
