Challenges to Disaster Risk Reduction - a study of stakeholders' perspectives in Imizamo Yethu, South Africa

Abstract: The concept of disaster risk reduction has gained more and more attention since the end of the 20th century due to the exponential increased loss of human lives and material losses, without any evidence of increased number of hazardous events. Instead of just managing disastrous events, a greater emphasis has been put on prevention efforts; an understanding of underlying drivers and vulnerabilities, and rapid urbanisation have been identified as one of the major factors shaping nations’ risks. The Disaster Management Act of South Africa offers a comprehensive framework for disaster risk reduction but the complex context of South Africa offers a range of challenges to fully implement the legislation. The rapid, and uncontrolled, community growth of Imizamo Yethu, one of many informal settlements in South Africa, has resulted in multiple risks for the residents. This report investigates the challenges to disaster risk reduction from the stakeholders’ of Imizamo Yethu’s perspectives. The identified challenges can be grouped into five different categories: rapid community growth, lack of land, conflicting development agendas, institutional capacity and community risk behaviour. It is suggested that even though physical measures are put in place it is essential that it be supported by education to give people a chance to manage the risks facing them.