MAHIKENG MAIL - MAHIKENG: The Mahikeng Local Municipality in the North West Province hosted its inaugural Disaster Management Summit from 2–3 October - a ground-breaking initiative aimed at strengthening the municipality’s ability to anticipate, prevent and respond to both natural and human-induced disasters.
This comes as the region continues to face a growing number of environmental and social challenges from flash floods and destructive winds to veld fires that devastate agricultural land.
In many cases, the absence of proper firebreaks, coupled with unplanned settlements in high-risk areas, has worsened the impact of these disasters.
Speaking at the summit, Gomotsegang Mosiane from the North West Provincial Disaster Management Centre highlighted the urgent need for proactive measures: “Most of the time, our municipalities are not proactive in terms of planning for any eventuality, especially when people occupy unserviced land. These are serious challenges - particularly the issue of people settling in disaster-prone areas such as wetlands and flood plains,” she said.
Addressing delegates, Mahikeng Executive Mayor Cllr Tshepiso Mphehlo stressed that disaster management must become an integral part of municipal planning and community development.
“Building a resilient Mahikeng requires collective effort and foresight. We can no longer afford to be reactive. Our focus must shift toward prevention, preparedness and sustainable urban planning that safeguards both lives and livelihoods,” said Mayor Mphehlo.
“This summit marks the beginning of a new chapter, one where government, communities, and stakeholders work hand-in-hand to reduce risk, protect the vulnerable and invest in long-term resilience.”
The summit also aims to foster collaboration between government departments, traditional leaders, emergency services, and civil society, ensuring that local communities are better equipped to respond to crises.
As climate-related and man-made disasters become increasingly frequent, the Mahikeng Local Municipality’s proactive approach signals a commitment to saving lives, protecting infrastructure and securing the future of its residents.
