The current population of South Africa has been migrating
into informal urban settlements that lack adequate sanitation service
delivery, caused at least in part by the lack of the necessary skills in the local
government sector and the lack of buy in from the community into the provided
sanitation facilities. The authors report results of policy research into the
relevant disaster management options that could be applied to improve the
sanitation service delivery in South Africa. The best policy option was identified
as the draft Disaster Management Regulations: Disaster Management. Local
government can use these tools through the formation of the volunteer units
from the nongovernmental organization sector, the business community, and
from among the end users of sanitation facilities. Formation of the volunteer
unit should follow the principles of cooperative governance and participatory
approach to disaster management. Implementation should be facilitated
through the adoption of locally specific municipal bylaws.