Floods and Failures: A Proposal to Strengthen South Africa's Emergency Response to Climate-Induced Disasters

South Africa, despite being an upper-middle-income country, is increasingly vulnerable to the harsh impacts of climate change. Over the years, the country has experienced severe weather events like droughts, wildfires, extreme temperatures, and particularly destructive floods.

Between 1900 and 2017, over 100 disasters resulted in 2,200 deaths, with 21 million people affected and an economic loss of 4.5 billion USD (World Bank). To build on this, the recent floods in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and the Eastern Cape (EC) highlight the urgent need for a more robust and coordinated emergency response system to handle such extreme weather-related disasters.

Recent Floods and Impact on Communities

Since June 1, 2024, KZN and EC have been hit by severe flooding, causing significant destruction. Heavy rainfall, strong winds, and hailstorms battered the regions, overwhelming rivers and wreaking havoc on both infrastructure and communities. In KZN, areas like eThekwini Metro and Ilembe faced blocked roads, damaged schools, and compromised critical infrastructure.

The death toll rose to seven in Durban alone, with hundreds evacuated from informal settlements at risk of river overflows. In EC, the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality saw severe damage, with Kariega, Blue Horizon Bay, and Seaview among the most affected areas. Eleven people lost their lives, and around 2,000 were evacuated as their homes were destroyed. This catastrophe emphasizes the vulnerability of these regions to climate-induced disasters.

The Role of Climate Change in Increasing Flood Risks

Climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of floods in South Africa. Studies have shown that extreme rainfall events are now expected to happen twice as frequently as they did before the industrial revolution due to rising greenhouse gas emissions. This increase in storms and flooding can be attributed to higher sea surface temperatures, which lead to stronger storms and heavier rainfall.

Poor urbanization planning have further compounded the problem. As a result, this has led to rapid expansion of cities into flood-prone areas, particularly informal settlements, has increased the population’s exposure to floods. Further, poor drainage systems and the destruction of natural buffers like wetlands and forests, which naturally absorb excess rainwater, have left many areas more vulnerable to flooding.

Emergency Response: Challenges and Gaps

The recent floods exposed significant gaps in South Africa’s emergency response system. Despite the efforts of organizations like the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), which played a crucial role in rescuing individuals from flooded homes and vehicles, the overall response remains reactive rather than proactive. The NSRI, alongside disaster management teams and the South African National Defence Force, conducted multiple rescue missions, saving lives and providing essential support. In the Eastern Cape alone, the NSRI saved about 70 people in 55 operations.

However, these rescue efforts only highlight the immediate need for more comprehensive and coordinated disaster response mechanisms. In many cases, outdated infrastructure and inadequate urban planning have left communities highly vulnerable, with informal settlements being particularly at risk. More so, the destruction of wetlands and other natural barriers has worsened the situation, while ageing infrastructure struggles to handle heavy rainfall.

Policy Framework and the Need for Disaster Preparedness

South Africa’s policy framework for disaster management has made progress, but it still lacks the capacity to address the growing threat posed by climate change. In support of this, a 2016 study by Duze, on the eThekwini Municipality in KZN identified several capacity constraints, such as incomplete disaster management plans and the absence of key institutional arrangements. Reasonably so, this reactive approach, rather than proactive disaster risk reduction (DRR), continues to hinder effective emergency responses.

In this case, South Africa needs to mainstream DRR into its core governance frameworks, aligning disaster risk reduction planning with municipal Integrated Development Plans (IDP). By doing so, the government can ensure that disaster prevention initiatives are incorporated into legal, financial, and urban planning processes. Theoretically, this would enhance and strengthen local disaster management teams, and build more resilient infrastructure to help mitigate the damage caused by future floods.

A Proposal for Moving Forward

The recent floods highlight the urgent need for South Africa to build resilience against the growing threat of climate-induced disasters. Strengthening early warning systems, investing in better infrastructure, and protecting natural barriers like wetlands should be top priorities. Moreover, the government must prioritize proactive disaster management strategies, ensuring that communities—especially those in informal settlements—are better prepared to face extreme weather events.

While emergency response efforts like those from the NSRI are essential, long-term planning and preventive measures are crucial to reducing the impact of future disasters. By addressing the gaps in urban planning, infrastructure, and DRR strategies, South Africa can better protect its most vulnerable communities from the increasing risks posed by climate change.

Conclusion

South Africa’s struggle with climate-induced disasters is only set to intensify unless decisive action is taken to improve its disaster preparedness and emergency response systems. The recent floods in KZN and EC have laid bare the vulnerabilities of the country’s infrastructure and the urgent need for more resilient and coordinated disaster management efforts. Thus, building adaptive capacity, particularly in informal settlements, is crucial if South Africa is to weather the storms of climate change in the years to come.

References

1. Anwana, E., & Owojori, O. (2023). Analysis of flooding vulnerability in informal settlements literature: mapping and research agenda. Social Sciences Review, 12(40), 1–21. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/12/1/40
2. Duze, M. P. (2016). A framework for disaster risk reduction for local government: A case study of eThekwini Municipality. [University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus]. https://core.ac.uk/download/196550632.pdf
3. Eloff, H. (2024, June 27). Climate change wreaks havoc: Major floods in KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape. National Sea Rescue Institute. https://www.nsri.org.za/2024/06/climate-change-wreaks-havoc-major-floods-in-kwazulu-natal-and-eastern-cape/
4. Fumiso Muyambo Johanes Belle, Y. S. N., & Orimoloye, I. R. (2024). Climate change extreme events and exposure of local communities to water scarcity: a case study of QwaQwa in South Africa. Environmental Hazards, 0(0), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/17477891.2024.2315263