The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

Yesterday I, along with the DA’s Northern Cape leader, Andrew Louw, visited the town of Douglas, west of Kimberley, to assess the impact of the recent floods on the surrounding community. The purpose of this visit was for the DA to engage with the members of the community, and make an assessment of their most pressing needs in order to determine how the DA can best serve them. In addition, we also sought to engage with the local authorities and DA MPLs and councillors in the region to ensure that they have all the means, and the necessary knowledge, to help most effectively where possible.

The DA commends the fortitude of the Douglas community, who also experienced a “man-made” flood last year, as a result of the water levels of the dams of the Vaal river system not being effectively managed. We also welcome the recent decision by Northern Cape premier Hazel Jenkins to visit Douglas , and hear first hand the experience of the community so that the lessons from the most recent floods can be incorporated into an effective disaster management strategy.

Douglas is situated below the confluence of the Orange and Vaal rivers, making it an area susceptible to flooding. The damage caused by the most recent floods was reportedly less severe than that of the previous year despite significantly higher rainfall in 2011 - an improvement which can in part be attributed to better management of the waters of the Orange river. However, the management of the Vaal Dam remains a cause for concern. It was clear from our conversations with members of the community that a stringently controlled risk assessment and water management system - incorporating the best possible technology - can be used to effectively mitigate the impact of flooding. This need has become particularly pressing given that flooding in the Douglas area appears to be occurring with increasing frequency.

The direct and indirect costs of flooding for communities like that of Douglas are immense. Direct costs include loss of life, loss of fixed and movable property and massive disruptions to levels of agricultural production at potentially exorbitant cost. Douglas and other rural towns also face chronic, widespread unemployment and are heavily dependent on agriculture as a source of jobs. Some farms in the Douglas area, for example, employ between 300 and 1000 seasonal workers a day at certain times of the year. The indirect impact of flooding on such communities can therefore be dire - the most pressing concern being the loss of the primary source of employment in the area. Disruptions to crop cycles also mean that seasonal workers can be without jobs for months on end. With levels of unemployment already high, the Douglas community voiced their concerns about the social impact of flooding and the associated increase in joblessness - including substance abuse, crime and domestic violence.

Our experience in Douglas confirmed that disaster relief programmes require a holistic approach. Such programmes also need to be carefully constructed to ensure that the required and appropriate relief reaches communities when and where they need it most.

We will be taking a number of steps following our discussions with the Douglas community. DA representatives in Parliament, the Northern Cape provincial legislature and Northern Cape municipalities will be using our assessment to inform the development of legislation relevant to disaster management policy, and to provide immediate assistance where needed.