The South African delegation led by KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Ms Nomusa Dube and KZN MEC for Finance, Ms Ina Cronjé, met with the USA based 911 Fund at the South African Consulate Offices in New York today, in a bid to finalise the elements of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to address the capacity support to KZN in the emergency management field or disaster management.
All elements of the MOU were finalised by the two parties and it will be signed in April by the premier. Then a team of experts from USA will arrive in KZN to conduct a full fire fighting capability assessment and provide intervention support through the provincial disaster management unit.
This support will also include:
1. technical Training on Fire Fighting
2. specialised training in areas of hazmat and chemical emergency management
3. harnessing resources and sponsorships to the value of R22 million, fire trucks, fire equipment and first line response items
4. as well as advocacy and sustained partnerships.
The President of the 911 Fund, Dr Stephan Hittmann appointed MEC Dube as a member of the International 911 Fund Advisory Board. She was also bestowed with the highest honour of survivors’ medal, bestowed to those that have contributed in saving the lives of the vulnerable.
“We are here not on a date but to build a lasting and a long relationship with KwaZulu-Natal” said Hittmann.
MEC Dube said “We are humbled by a good gesture of the fund and all the support that the province is receiving from the 911 Fund. We are looking forward to this long term partnership with the United States of America ”.
“The provincial government is throwing full support to this initiative and we feel honoured to be receiving this kind of support from the 911 Fund. We will make sure that this initiative works for the betterment of our people in KwaZulu-Natal” said MEC Cronjé.
