Disaster Management Act: Classification of COVID -19 pandemic as a national disaster (G.N. Notice 312 of 2020)

STAATSKOERANT, 15 MAART 2020 No. 43096   3 Government Notices • Goewermentskennisgewings Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Department of/ Samewerkende Regering en Tradisionele Sake, Departement van DEPARTMENT OF CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS NO. 312  15 MARCH 2020 312 Disaster Management Act (57/2002): Classification of a National Disaster 43096 NATIONAL DISASTER. I, Dr Mmaphaka Tau, in my capacity as Head of the National Disaster Management Centre after assessing the potential magnitude and severity of the COVID -19 pandemic in the country, hereby give notice that on 15 March 2020, in terms of section 23(1)(b) of the Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002) (the Act), classified the COVID -19 pandemic as a national disaster. Emanating from the classification of this occurrence as a national disaster, in terms of section 26, read with section 23 (8) of the Act, the primary responsibility to coordinate and manage the disaster, in terms of existing legislation and contingency arrangements, is designated to the national executive. I hereby, in terms of Section 15(2)(aA) of the Act, read with section 23(8), call upon organs of state to further strengthen and support the existing structures to implement contingency arrangements and ensure that measures are put in place to enable the national executive to effectively deal with the effects of this disaster. Also emanating from this classification, and the assistance provided by organs of state in terms of Section 23(8) and Sections 15(2)(aA) of the Act, organs of state are required to prepare and submit reports, as required by the National Disaster Management Centre and as outlined in Section 24(4) -(8) of the Act, to the respective intergovernmental forums as listed therein. aphaka Tau ead: National Disaster Management Centre Department of Cooperative Governance This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za