On Thursday, 18 June 2026, Alfred Duma Local Municipality, led by Mayor Cllr ZJ Sibisi and the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Services, successfully launched the 2026 Disaster Management Contingency Plan and Winter State of Readiness. The launch, held in partnership with key stakeholders at the SANDF 5 SAI Battalion military base in uMnambithi, was coordinated under the theme: “Enhancing Winter Preparedness through Integrated Coordination, Operational Readiness and Collaborative Disaster Risk Reduction” .
The event secured strong attendance of officials from district, provincial, military, and humanitarian partners, ensuring a cohesive approach to emergency response. Each stakeholder presented their dedicated roles and winter season responsibilities:
Following the strategic presentations, a live practical field exercise was launched the winter mitigation season. A controlled firebreak creation demonstration was successfully executed, testing communication and tactical cohesion between:
The demonstration successfully verified the integration of equipment, personnel, and command protocols on-site, which demonstrates that the municipality and its partners are in a strong state of readiness to mitigate and respond to seasonal disasters.
Issued by:
Alfred Duma Local Municipality
Communication and Intergovernmental Relations Section
Media Enquiries:
Ms TN Mkhize
072 579 9544
- Alfred Duma Local Municipality Disaster Management : Outlined the primary local contingency framework, risk mapping, and localized response protocols.
- uThukela District Disaster Management : Provided district-wide oversight and resource-sharing capabilities for cross-boundary incidents.
- KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Disaster Management Centre (KZN PDMC) : Detailed provincial support structures, advisory services, and macro-level disaster tracking.
- Operation Sukuma Sakhe (OSS) : Briefed on community-level communication channels, ward-level alignment, and social mobilization.
- Emergency Medical Services (EMS) & Department of Health : Presented medical emergency standby capacities, triage readiness, and seasonal healthcare response.
- Working on Fire (WoF) : Focused on specialized veld firefighting crews, community awareness outreach, and tactical suppression support.
- Al-Imdaad Foundation : Detailed humanitarian relief protocols, including emergency provision of blankets, hot meals, and temporary relief materials during disaster incidents.
- South African National Defence Force (SANDF) Fire Service
- Alfred Duma Local Municipality (ADLM) Fire Service
- Working on Fire (WoF) Crews