The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) and the South African Red Cross Society signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the Ekurhuleni municipal offices in Bedfordview on September 17.
Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Head of Department (HOD), Mr Moshema Mosia said the memorandum was aimed at intensifying the working relationship to maximise efficiency in the event of emergencies or disaster in Ekurhuleni.
“This day will go down in the history of the EMM and will be remembered as the day when the Red Cross and the EMM actually walked the talk by giving effect to the definition of disaster management as defined by the legislation. Preventing disaster is not a one-man-show, hence we are signing the MOU with the Red Cross,” said Mr Mosia.
He said the MOU was a process of planning and implementation of measures that are aimed at preventing or reducing the risks of disaster, hence it is multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary in nature.
“The disaster management of the EMM is still misunderstood to be a line function whereas it is a community function. This is because almost all legislative stakeholders are not yet accepting or taking responsibility of their legislative mandate, hence you see disaster management being synonymous with the distribution of blankets and food parcels, which is something we are working on changing and making sure that all stakeholders are able to take up their responsibilities,” said Mr Mosia.
He said the relationship and cooperation between the EMM and the Red Cross is not a new one, as they have been working together for many years and they are looking forward to a continued working relationship with the Red Cross in disaster situations for many more years.
The EMM’s spokesperson, Mr Themba Gadebe, said the signing of the MOU was to formalise the relationship that already exists and to outline the role and responsibilities in future events.
“We have since had a good relationship with Red Cross SA, who had come on board to assist the municipality in emergency situations such as the recent spate of attacks on foreign nationals,”said Mr Gadebe.
Red Cross SA’s chief executive officer (CEO), Mr Derick Naidoo, said in the many years they have worked with the EMM, the signing of the MOU was about finally putting professionalism on paper.
He said the MOU was also about positioning themselves to work with the EMM and assist where the city is short of supplies during disasters.
“As the Red Cross, we cannot do the work alone. Therefore it is important to work together with the municipality to ensure the work on the ground is done,” said Mr Naidoo.
