Joburg has no money for disaster relief

If Johannesburg were to be hit by a disaster the authorities' response would be meagre.

The member of the mayoral committee for public safety, Sello Lemao, has conceded that the city does not have the funds legislation requires it to set aside for disaster relief.

With a budget of R43.8-billion for the financial year beginning July 1 and a population estimated at 4.4million, the city has little more than R500000 in a "separate account" for disaster relief.

According to the National Disaster Management Framework, the city is required to set aside 0.05% of its annual budget for the Disaster Management Fund.

"The City of Johannesburg has a Disaster Management Fund and a separate account. There is a balance of more than R500000 in the account," said Lemao in a written response to questions by DA councillor Gerthard Niemand.

Niemand had asked Lemao whether the city maintained a disaster fund and what percentage of the budget it was allocated.

"The city finance department is negotiating procedures to top up the fund according to the National Disaster Management Framework [to] 0.05% of the city's annual budget. The Disaster Management Act and National Policy Framework govern the fund. It is only accessible when a disaster has been declared. The utilisation of the fund must comply with the Municipal Finance Management Act."

Niemand said: "If we have a disaster, this means the city is not empowered to respond adequately. A city the size of Joburg, with a budget of more than R40-billion, can't have a disaster fund of a mere R500000." Lemao sought to refute suggestions that the city was ill-prepared , saying it had a "Disaster management centre at Sandton Fire Station" that was " equipped with the necessary equipment to function". A weather station is operational for early warnings, and a call centre to coordinate contingency plans and monitor incidents and disasters," he said .

But, speaking to The Times, Niemand dismissed Lemao's assertions. "They [disaster management centres] are merely administrative centres. They keep records of disasters.

"There is no access to [disaster] funding on weekends. Perhaps the mayor [Parks Tau] is the only one able to release funding," he said.