Good morning, Master of Ceremonies, Professor Craig Vincent-Lambert. Please allow me to acknowledge,
It gives me great pleasure to join you this morning at the launch of the University of Johannesburg's multidisciplinary Rescue Centre, a facility that embodies innovation, partnership, and public service.
Let me begin by grounding today's reflections in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. Section 24 guarantees everyone the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being. Section 27 enshrines the right to social security, including compensation for occupational injuries and diseases. Section 41 establishes the principle of cooperative governance, urging all spheres of government to coordinate their efforts in pursuit of the common good.
These provisions form the constitutional basis for our work in the Department of Employment and Labour as it relates to occupational health, safety, and disaster management. Protecting workers, preventing harm, and responding swiftly to emergencies are not isolated mandates — they are shared responsibilities that underpin social stability and economic growth.
The establishment of this state-of-the-art Rescue Centre is both timely and strategic. South Africa continues to face natural and industrial emergencies that test the resilience of our systems. We have witnessed devastating floods in KwaZulu-Natal in 2022, recurring wildfires in the Western Cape, not forgetting the building collapse in George that claimed many lives, and persistent droughts in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo, including the Jaggersfontein tailings dam collapse. These events demonstrate the urgent need for preparedness, coordination, and trained rescue capacity.
South Africa's Disaster Management Act, No. 57 of 2002 provides the legislative framework for an integrated approach to disaster risk management, covering prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. The National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC), established in terms of the Disaster Management Act, plays a central role in coordinating these efforts, strengthening early warning systems, and supporting provincial and municipal disaster response. At the heart of this framework lies a simple truth: preparedness saves lives and protects livelihoods.
Complementing this, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, No. 85 of 1993, places a legal duty on employers to provide a safe working environment, including during rescue operations in construction, mining, manufacturing, or emergency response. Compliance with this Act is both a legal and moral obligation, ensuring that rescue operations are conducted safely, efficiently, and within the law.
Disasters and workplace accidents often intersect. During floods, fires, or storms, workers face heightened risks from hazardous materials, structural collapses, or unsafe rescue conditions. By reducing and preventing such injuries and diseases, we also ease the financial and administrative burden on the Compensation Fund under COIDA. Prevention is more cost-effective than compensation; each life saved and injury prevented supports the long-term sustainability of the Fund and contributes to a more resilient economy.
At the continental level, the African Union promotes the same principles through the African Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Programme of Action for the Implementation of the Sendai Framework for the UN Disaster Risk Reduction. The AU Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy reinforce the link between environmental protection, emergency response, and sustainable economic development. As climate change intensifies, investing in preparedness, rescue training, and occupational health and safety is a direct investment in national development and economic continuity.
The University of Johannesburg's Rescue Centre addresses this imperative. Through education, training, and research, it will expand South Africa's emergency response capacity, strengthen inter-institutional collaboration, and enhance regional leadership in rescue operations.
These initiatives build professional competence, foster partnerships, and contribute to both local and regional development.
Importantly for us at the Department of Employment and Labour, this Resource Centre will meaningfully contribute to the skills and training development of our national workforce. This will enhance the employability for students who are ready for the labour market.
Colleagues, this Centre embodies cooperative governance and the practical application of constitutional, legislative, and regional frameworks. It demonstrates how academia, government, and industry can work together to protect lives, strengthen resilience, and support inclusive growth.
In closing, let us remember that the prevention and reduction of occupational injuries and diseases is not merely a legal requirement — it is central to sustaining productivity, protecting livelihoods, and promoting a just and equitable society. The establishment of this Rescue Centre is therefore more than an institutional achievement; it is a national commitment to safety, dignity, and resilience in the face of growing global and environmental challenges.
I thank you.
© 2019 - The South African Department of Employment & Labour
