Lembe District Municipality Champions School Safety

The iLembe District Municipality successfully hosted a vital School Safety programme, demonstrating its unwavering commitment to ensuring the well-being and security of learners and educators across the district. The programme, held on October 16, served as a local initiative to commemorate the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (observed globally on October 13) and brought together key stakeholders to address critical aspects of school-based disaster risk management and safety.

The iLembe District Municipality Chairperson on Economic Development and Planning portfolio, Councillor Hlengiwe Makhatha, delivered an impactful address on the mayor’s behalf, underscoring the municipality’s dedication to fostering a safe and resilient educational environment.
“It is critically important for our students to take the information presented today back home and share it with their family and community members. Given the many natural disaster challenges faced by the iLembe District, our students must become informed community members—active agents of safety—on disaster risks and the essential methods to mitigate them.” – Councilor Makhata

Practical Demonstrations and Critical Knowledge Sharing

The programme went beyond theory, focusing on actionable knowledge: “In the past financial year, over 100 schools in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal were affected by natural disasters. Engagements like this are crucial to helping schools and students mitigate the impact of these events.” – Mr. Bheki Phungula, Provincial Disaster Management Centre (PDMC).

“During an extreme lightning thunderstorm, students should seek shelter indoors and avoid being near tall, lone trees. It’s also vital not to take a bath or shower during a thunderstorm, as water pipes can conduct electricity, increasing the risk of being struck by lightning.” – Mr. S. Ngubane, iLembe District Municipality Disaster Manager.

Thelumsa Mbongwa from KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Fire provided students with a vital practical demonstration on ways that students can help someone who is drowning using practical home materials.

The programme’s primary purpose was to assist schools in developing a comprehensive disaster management plan, which includes providing an overview of the iLembe District Profile, sharing a step-by-step process of conducting school-based risk assessments, outlining a practical guide towards the development of a school risk profile, and presenting a recommended structure for a school-based disaster management plan.

Addressing District-Specific Hazards

The iLembe District remains prone to both natural and man-made hazards. The district has experienced an increase in the magnitude and severity of weather events such as heavy rainfall, strong winds, hail, and lightning, as well as structural and veld fires. Beyond natural disasters, schools also face myriad challenges including high crime rates, burglary, substance abuse, bullying, and foodborne illnesses. This programme directly addresses these concerns by factoring them into comprehensive school-based disaster management plans.

Key Components of the School Safety Programme

The programme outlined a robust framework for school-based risk assessment and disaster management, including: Forming a Disaster Management Team, Identifying Potential Hazards (natural and man-made), a Risk Assessment (Step By Step Approach) for continuous monitoring, and Creating a Disaster Response and Recovery Plan.

Priority Risks and Mitigation Strategies

The district’s priority risks for 2025/26 include Fire (Veld/Structural), Strong Winds, Floods, Lightning, Illegal Electricity Connections, Road Accidents, Drought (Water Shortage), Health Hazards (Food Borne Illnesses), and Crime. The programme provided a school-based risk profile identifying various hazards along with their likelihood, frequency, impact, and proposed preventative and mitigation strategies.

The iLembe District Municipality extends its profound gratitude to the Provincial Disaster Management Centre, KwaDukuza Disaster Management, KwaDukuza Fire Service, Working on Fire, and especially the students and Educators of Stanger South Secondary School for  making the engagement a success. The municipality remains committed to continuing these crucial initiatives to safeguard our schools and communities by empowering them with knowledge and practical skills.