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The OR Tambo District Municipality leadership met in the Nyandeni Local Municipality Council Chambers on 4 December 2025 for the District Mayor’s Forum. The Forum serves as the district’s engine room for coordination, accountability and service delivery. Leaders used the session to assess readiness for the festive period and review ongoing emergency response capacity.
During the sitting, the district officially handed over five disaster management vehicles. These vehicles will support faster emergency response, improve mobility, and strengthen visibility in high-risk areas. Officials said disaster strikes without warning, and readiness must never fall behind.
New fleet expected to improve response times across communities
The new disaster fleet is expected to help teams reach communities faster when fear rises and seconds matter. Leaders say the vehicles will support local response units and allow teams to access remote villages more effectively.
District officials also conducted a walkabout of the nearly completed Disaster Management Centre. The centre is now 98% complete and is scheduled for handover in February 2026.
Leaders described the centre as a critical investment in community safety. They emphasised that it is built for coordination, life-saving operations and district-wide crisis management.
Centre aims to boost long-term disaster preparedness
The Disaster Management Centre will serve as a hub for emergency planning, communication and rapid deployment. It will enable improved coordination between municipalities during storms, floods, fires and other emergencies.
Officials say the district must remain prepared throughout the year, not only during the festive season. They believe the fleet and the centre will significantly improve how the district protects vulnerable households.
