The formulation of the Matsapha Disaster Risk Management Plan is in full effect after the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with the National Disaster management Agency (NDMA) on the 29th of May 2019. The formulation of the Plan was informed by the Integrated Development Plan (IDP), a strategic tool developed through engaging Matsapha stakeholders and technocrats. Council has begun the process to ensure that by 2020 a Disaster Risk Management Plan is ready.
Council has engaged the services of a Consultant to assist in identifying all major disaster risks that may pose a threat to life and property in the urban and peri-urban area. The purpose of the exercise is to help inform the Matsapha Disaster Risk Management Plan. On the 30th of October 2019, a delegation of the Consultants, an NDMA representative, and Matsapha Town Council visited five (5) sites. These sites were sampled from all the industries in Matsapha. These sites were Afrox, Galp Energia, Fashion International, CONCO and the informal Settlement (Mahlabatsini).
To ensure that more information was gathered, key stakeholders were invited to a Consultation Meeting which was held on 31st October 2019 at Esibayeni Lodge. The workshop was attended by a total of 54 people which included Safety Health Environment Quality Managers and representatives from different institutions such the Police, Fuel Depots, Fire, Red Cross, SEA and textile companies to name but a few. This exercise was a continuation from the site visits, to get an understanding of disaster risks Matsapha is most vulnerable to in case of disaster. This was a successful consultative meeting with full participation by the public.
