WCDM Official assisting United Nations

Statement by Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell.

The Director for disaster operations in the Western Cape, Jacqueline Pandaram has been called to assist the United Nations and the Government of Namibia in conducting a national capacity assessment of the disaster risk management system in Namibia.

Anton Bredell, the minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in the Western Cape, has congratulated Ms. Pandaram.

“I believe Jacqui is the only disaster management official from any government entity in South Africa to be invited to participate. We are very proud of her. The faith shown by the UN and other institutions in our officials shows how highly rated the Western Cape Disaster Management team has become.”

Bredell says the Western Cape government considers it important that disaster management staff be exposed to disaster management systems in other countries.

“It provides valuable learning opportunities and experience, in order to be better prepared should the time come, to manage similar emergencies in our own country,” said Bredell.

The WCDMC team has in recent years facilitated a number of international tours for its members. In 2011 a group of rescuers from Western Cape Emergency Services responded to the Tsunami disaster in Japan. A group of fire officers also assisted the Fire services in Montana, USA during a major wildfire in 2014. In 2015 two of our members assisted the government of Malawi in dealing with a flood disaster.

These initiatives were financed by external funding, from sources including foreign governments and sponsors.

ENDS.