Harnessing data and technology: SA launches early warning systems initiative for weather disasters
After the recent devastating floods in the Eastern Cape, South Africa has unveiled the Early Warning for All Roadmap, which is aimed at enhancing disaster preparedness and safeguarding communities.
Image: OR Tambo District Municipality
In the wake of deadly floods that struck KwaZulu-Natal in 2022 and the Eastern Cape in June 2023, the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Velenkosini Hlabisa, has launched South Africa’s Early Warning for All (EW4All) Roadmap, a national framework aimed at strengthening disaster preparedness and response.
Speaking at the launch in Cape Town, Hlabisa said the roadmap represents “a powerful declaration of intent and commitment” to protect communities from natural disasters through technology, collaboration and innovation.
“Today marks a significant milestone with the launch of the Early Warning for All Roadmap for South Africa,” he said. “This initiative is not merely a technical achievement; it signals that South Africa, and by extension the entire African continent, is poised to take on a leadership role in global efforts aimed at fostering safety and resilience.”
The roadmap is aligned with the global Early Warnings for All initiative, which aims to ensure universal early warning coverage by 2027. Hlabisa said the country’s recent experiences with droughts, wildfires and severe flooding underscore the urgency of strengthening early warning systems.
“The April 2022 Durban floods, which claimed over 500 lives, and the June 2023 Eastern Cape floods, which took more than 100 lives and devastated infrastructure, are painful reminders of the urgency of our mission,” he said.
According to Hlabisa, the roadmap demonstrates South Africa’s readiness to “innovate by harnessing advanced technologies and data analytics” to enable proactive responses to environmental risks. He added that the framework emphasises the importance of cooperation among government, local communities and international partners.
“Our G20 Presidency is guided by three interwoven principles: solidarity, equality and sustainability,” Hlabisa said.
“Solidarity means standing together in the face of shared risks. Equality demands that we confront the structural disparities that make some populations more vulnerable than others. Sustainability reminds us that resilience is not just about surviving the next disaster; it is about thriving in the long term.”
Hlabisa acknowledged the contributions of India and Brazil to the G20 Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Working Group, saying South Africa’s presidency would “consolidate these achievements and localise them for maximum impact across the continent.”
He outlined a 12-month action plan that includes:
- Launching the G20 DRR Continuity Taskforce
- Hosting the G20 Resilience Financing Dialogue in Durban in early 2026
- Piloting the Recovery Readiness Framework in three South African municipalities
“With immense pride and responsibility, I am pleased to announce the official launch of the South Africa Early Warning for All Roadmap,” Hlabisa said.
“This ambitious initiative marks a significant step towards enhancing our preparedness and response capabilities in the face of global challenges.”