DMISA

24/10/2026

🎉 Introducing the DMISA Board for 2026 to 2028! 🎉

The Disaster Management Institute of Southern Africa (DMISA) is proud to announce its incoming board for 2026 to 2028, following a successful DRR Conference, Resilience Starts With Us: Building Sustainable Communities and Advancing the SDGs for a Safer Future.

President: : Lebogang Mosotho
Deputy President: Freda Mathebula

Executive members: Lebogang Mosotho, Owen Becker, Freda Mathebula, Johan Minnie, Tshilidzi Nthambeleni, Kabelo Molao and Sthembiso Mthombeni.

Board members: Phuti Kabe, Tshepi Mogafe, Obakeng Sediko, Mmofe Rakgase, Mduduzi Nxumalo, Dr Pios Ncube, Richard Shivasa Nkuna and Tshifaro Thambatshira.

PR councillors: Amanda Tobo, Vicky Manyathi, Tebello Mokoena, Lesego Shoroma, Schalk Carstens and Timothy Yabo.

Chairpersons: Zandile Lwando, Lwandile Nokoyo, Tsholofelo Moumakwe, Evelyn Maleka and Tshilidzi Nthambeleni.

Congratulations to each of you, and thank you for your commitment to building a safer, more resilient southern Africa. 👏

🏆 Special recognition
🥇 Best Recruiter: Eastern Cape Region
🥇 Best Region: Free State Region
🥇 Best Exhibitor: Industrial Fire and Hazard Control

Thank you to everyone who helped make this conference a success.

22/10/2026

DMISA CONFERENCE 2026 | DAY 2: BREAKAWAY SESSIONS

The Day 2 breakaway sessions at the Disaster Management Institute of Southern Africa (DMISA) Conference 2026 provided a platform for knowledge-sharing, innovation and critical discussions on strengthening disaster resilience and advancing professional practice.

Under the theme “Resilience Starts With Us: Building Sustainable Communities and Advancing the SDGs for a Safer Future,” presenters explored a diverse range of topics, including:

🔹 Digital Storytelling for More Resilient Communities – Prof Juliet Chipumoro

🔹 TQC and TQAC: Novel International Disaster and Emergency Management Certification – Roman Tandlich

🔹 Building Community Resilience Through Participatory Climate Risk Assessment, Adaptation Planning and Biodiversity Stewardship: Lessons from Two Rural Communities – Humayra Battey

🔹 From Wicked Problem to Adaptive Capacity: A Systems-Based USAR Capacity Development Model for Sub-Saharan Africa – Nadia Taljaard-Nilsen

🔹 Drowning in Trauma: Mental Health Impacts of Floods in Overpopulated Informal Settlements in South Africa – Koketso Mpshane

🔹 Resilience Starts With Us: Mobilising the Faith-Based Community as Frontline Disaster Responders Through the Ready SA Model – Ferdi Mocke

🔹 Traditional Leadership and Disaster Risk Reduction in Rural Rustenburg: Clarifying Incidents, Disasters and Community Response – Refilwe Rammitlwa

🔹 Professionalisation in the Events Industry and the Importance of Collaboration Between Professional Bodies – Kevin Jones

These presentations highlighted the importance of community participation, indigenous and local knowledge, mental health support, innovative technologies, professional development and collaboration in building resilient communities.

From strengthening local disaster response capacity to mobilising faith-based organisations and exploring new approaches to climate risk, the discussions reinforced the need for collective action and innovative solutions to address complex disaster risks.

📢 Join the conversation! Which of these topics do you believe could make the greatest difference in strengthening disaster resilience in South Africa and across the continent? Share your thoughts in the comments.

22/10/2026

🌍 DMISA CONFERENCE 2026 | DAY 2: BUILDING RESILIENCE THROUGH ACTION

📍 River Meadow Manor, Centurion | 22 October 2026

Day 2 of the Disaster Management Institute of Southern Africa (DMISA) Conference continued with insightful presentations and meaningful discussions under the theme:

“Resilience Starts With Us: Building Sustainable Communities and Advancing the SDGs for a Safer Future.”

The morning session explored practical ways to strengthen disaster resilience through municipal accountability, professional competency, school emergency preparedness, community innovation and sustainable firefighting practices.

💡 Key highlights from Session 3 included:

🔹 Dr Tanja Terblanche challenged municipalities to embed disaster resilience across all departments through accountability and integrated planning.

🔹 Mr Owen Becker emphasised that professional competency is non-negotiable in building effective disaster management systems.

🔹 Mr Abel Hamutenya shared the City of Windhoek’s experience in strengthening emergency preparedness in schools, highlighting the importance of emergency plans, hazard assessments and regular drills.

🔹 Mr Irfaan Ahmed demonstrated how innovation can strengthen community resilience and improve disaster response.

🔹 Mr Trevor Fiford challenged delegates to rethink firefighting in the era of El Niño, highlighting the importance of water efficiency and innovative firefighting solutions.

The session reinforced a powerful message: resilience is not built by one department or institution alone. It requires competent professionals, accountable municipalities, prepared schools, innovative communities and collaborative action.

As delegates move into the breakaway sessions, the focus remains on sharing knowledge, exchanging experiences and developing practical solutions towards safer and more sustainable communities.

📢 The conversation continues! What practical action can your organisation take today to strengthen disaster resilience in your community? Share your thoughts in the comments.

22/10/2026

An inspirational start Day 2 of the 2026 DMISA Conference in Tshwane

21/10/2026

🌍 DMISA Conference 2026 | Advancing Disaster Resilience Through Research and Indigenous Knowledge

Today’s discussions highlighted the importance of strengthening disaster preparedness and response by addressing capacity gaps and embracing local knowledge.
Breakaway 1

📌 When Disasters Compound: Assessing the Capacity Gap in Agricultural Disaster Response in Sarah Baartman District, Eastern Cape
🎤 Presented by Zukiswa Poto

This presentation explored the capacity challenges affecting agricultural disaster response, emphasising the need to strengthen institutional readiness and response mechanisms to support vulnerable farming communities when disasters occur.

📌 Reconceptualising Drought Disaster Preparedness Through the Incorporation of Indigenous Knowledge: A Case Study of Vhembe District
🎤 Presented by Tshilidzi Nthambeleni, Nkhetheni Mphaphuli and Thambatshira Tshifaro

This research highlighted the value of integrating indigenous knowledge into drought preparedness, recognising the role of local experience, traditional practices and community wisdom in building resilience to drought.

💡 The key message: Effective disaster risk management requires more than responding to emergencies. It calls for building capacity, strengthening partnerships and combining scientific approaches with indigenous knowledge to develop locally relevant, sustainable solutions.

📢 Let’s continue the conversation! How can we better integrate indigenous knowledge and strengthen agricultural disaster response to build more resilient communities?

21/10/2026

Building Resilience Through Stronger Disaster Risk Governance! 🌍🤝

At the DMISA Conference 2026, we are exploring innovative approaches to strengthening South Africa’s disaster management system and building resilient communities.

📌 Resilience Starts With Us: Institutionalising Community Risk Management as the Frontline Tier of South Africa’s Reformed Disaster Management System — presented by Francis Hoets, CEO of Disaster Risk Management NPC.

📌 From Managing Disasters to Governing Risk: How Institutional Positioning Shapes Disaster Risk Governance in Africa — presented by Millan Atam, Managing Director of Gravitazz Institute for Disaster Reduction and Emergency Management.

These presentations highlight the importance of community-level risk information, strong institutions and effective governance in closing disaster risk data gaps and strengthening disaster resilience from the household up.

💬 Join the conversation! How can we strengthen community participation and institutional collaboration to build a more resilient South Africa?

21/10/2026

Good afternoon Delegates,

As we continue with the DMISA Conference, we kindly encourage all delegates to complete the Conference Evaluation Form, starting this afternoon.

Your feedback is important in helping us assess the conference, identify areas for improvement, and enhance the planning and delivery of future DMISA events.

Please take a few minutes to complete the form and share your honest thoughts, experiences, and suggestions. Every response counts, and your input will help us make future conferences even more impactful.

📝 Evaluation Form: attached

Thank you for your participation, engagement, and continued support of DMISA. Let us work together to make every conference better than the last!

Your feedback matters, let your voice be heard! 🙏🏽https://forms.gle/iX3WTEwoSN2vCFhj9

21/10/2026

The latest edition of the Disaster Management Journal, the official journal of DMISA.

Read the magazine above or download the PDF below

21/10/2026

🌍 DMISA CONFERENCE 2026 | DAY 1

Resilience Starts With Us: Building Sustainable Communities and Advancing the SDGs for a Safer Future

The first day of the Disaster Management Institute of Southern Africa (DMISA) Conference 2026 is underway in Tshwane! 🇿🇦

Today, disaster management professionals, government leaders, practitioners and stakeholders are coming together to strengthen collaboration, share knowledge and explore innovative approaches to building resilient and sustainable communities.

The opening ceremony sets the tone for a powerful programme featuring messages of support from government and traditional leadership, the official opening of the conference, and insightful plenary sessions on the state of disaster management in South Africa and the importance of resilience.

🤝 Resilience is a shared responsibility. By strengthening partnerships, advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and investing in disaster risk reduction, we can build safer communities that are better prepared to anticipate, withstand and recover from disasters.

📢 Join the conversation! What does “Resilience Starts With Us” mean to you, and what actions can we take today to build a safer tomorrow? Share your thoughts in the comments!

20/10/2026

⚖️ Strengthening Disaster Management Through Clear Legal Mandates!

At the NDMC–DMISA Pre-Conference Workshop, discussions explored the exercise of public power in disaster management, highlighting the importance of understanding the legal framework that guides decision-making and action during disasters.

The presentation emphasised the roles and responsibilities of different spheres of government in disaster classification and declaration, as provided for in the Disaster Management Act, 2002.

Effective disaster management requires more than preparedness and response — it demands lawful decision-making, clear accountability, and coordinated action to protect communities and strengthen resilience.

📢 LET’S TAKE THE CONVERSATION FURTHER!

💬 Are we doing enough to ensure that public power is exercised lawfully, effectively, and accountably in disaster management?

👇 Join the conversation in the comments! Share your insights, experiences, and recommendations on how we can strengthen disaster governance and build more resilient communities.

🔁 Like, share, and tag disaster management practitioners, policymakers, emergency responders, and local government leaders who should be part of this important conversation.

Together, let’s move beyond awareness to action, accountability, and safer communities!