Programme Director
Honourable MEC of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs, Mr Mcebisi Jonas
Honourable Executive Mayor, Alfred Nzo Municipality, Cllrr Eunice Diko
Honourable Mayor of the Umzimvubu Municipality, Councilor Khulukazi Pangwa
South African Weather Service (SAWS) CEO Dr Linda Makuleni
Disaster Management representatives
Members of the communities of Mount Frere and Mount Aylif
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen
I am very glad to see so many community members gathered here today and I am pleased to address you on a topic of great relevance and importance: weather awareness.
I want to thank the South African Weather Service, Disaster Management and community leaders for their initiative to jointly host this awareness raising road show and hope that you will become empowered in terms of weather awareness today.
Ladies and Gentlemen
During 2011, Mount Frere battled with severe weather phenomena which included lightning, damaging hail and flooding. If we just look at the beginning of 2011, we recall reports on the enormous impacts that floods had on South Africa during the period December 2010 until February 2011.
Infrastructure damage of around R3.6 million was done, while the preliminary estimate for agricultural damage (as done by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries) amounted to R400 million. More than 14 400 households were affected by flood damage, while in the Northern Cape alone, 923 farms were affected.
The rest of the country did not have it any easier, as the records of the South African Weather Service (SAWS) show that in the Limpopo Province, North West, Mpumalanga, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal hundreds of farms, farm workers, animals and infrastructure were affected.
Since the beginning of this year, 2012, South Africa has also experienced wide flooding from the severe tropical low pressure systems when Tropical Cyclone Dando affected the north eastern parts of the country, as well as the most recent flooding and damage brought about by Severe Tropical Storm Irina, mostly in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). All these severe weather events caused damage to property, loss of lives and livelihoods and created a huge economic impact.
Ladies and gentlemen
We know that flooding is not the only severe weather hazard that can destroy life and property. One of the most disturbing weather hazards is lightning, the impact of which can be reduced if communities know the precautionary measures. I am alarmed at the number of deaths that have once again occurred during summer, due to lightning. I want to appeal to all present here today to really spread the word that lightning is dangerous and that one must take proper precautions.
The golden rule would be to seek shelter when clouds build-up and thunderstorms start – lightning can strike anywhere and it is best to be indoors.
We cannot prevent hazardous weather from happening, but we can take steps to prevent them from becoming disasters, or at least lessen the impact of these disasters. Members of the public need to take note of the daily weather forecasts and take steps for their safety when severe weather approaches. If needs be, follow evacuation instructions and thereby save your own lives.
For South Africans to be safeguarded against weather hazards, the South African Weather Service cooperates at many levels on an international as well as national scale. It monitors the weather 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and provides information about forecasts, discomfort indexes, possibilities of drought and flooding, climate information and much more, to the media, public and disaster management centres via an advanced technological network.
One of our most important partners in mitigating weather disasters is the local Disaster Management structure. Different structures at municipal level are responsible to receive warnings of expected severe weather and warn communities in advance.
I hope that you all derived great value from the presentations and discussions today and that this initiative has created a much higher awareness about weather.
I thank you.
