The role of public participation in disaster risk reduction initiatives : the case of Katlehong township
Abstract
Disaster risk reduction (DRR) has become a policy priority worldwide and in line with this
trend, the South African Disaster Management Act and National Disaster Management Framework
prioritise DRR in efforts to build resilient communities with local municipalities being required
to develop their own Disaster Management Frameworks. The problem is that public
participation is treated as of secondary importance yet international agreements such as the
Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) actively promote public participation
in DRR. A bottom-up approach is the most effective in ensuring successful DRR initiatives at
the local level because communities take ownership of these initiatives and gain a better
understanding of their risks. Community-based disaster risk reduction originated in the
paradigm shift away from the traditional disaster management approach, moving away from
reactive responses in the top-down approach in disaster risk management to more proactive
responses. This research study explored approaches used for public participation to ensure
successful DRR initiatives in Katlehong township. The study is exploratory and descriptive,
having used qualitative and quantitative research approaches, which included questionnaires
and interviews. The results gleaned from the data suggested that the role of public participation
in DRR initiatives is ineffective in Katlehong township because of the reluctance of stakeholders
to participate in DRR. Accordingly, it was recommended that the municipality host stakeholder
sessions where stakeholders are informed about the role of the centre and about their own role
in DRR. Such stakeholder sessions should assist in resolving issues such as confusion about the
stakeholders’ roles in DRR and help to obtain buy-in from all the stakeholders.