South Africa adopts smart technologies to strengthen disaster resilience

South Africa's eThekwini Municipality is taking a new step towards technology-driven governance with a comprehensive plan to modernise disaster management through drones, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Following a three-day regional conference on smart technologies, the municipality announced new initiatives aimed at transforming early warning systems, accelerating emergency responses, and improving urban resilience.

Deputy Mayor Zandile Myeni said the municipality is committed to shifting to data-driven governance and sustainable urban development. “Our goal is to move from reactive to proactive governance, where every decision is informed by data and every community is empowered to respond,” she stated.

Among the key initiatives, eThekwini plans to deploy drones for search and rescue operations and post-disaster assessments, use AI to model and predict high-risk zones, and apply GIS data to improve infrastructure design, particularly for stormwater systems and housing developments.

The integration of these tools into the city’s disaster management framework will also strengthen early warning networks and accelerate decision-making in emergencies. This is reported by DUrbanTV, a partner of TV BRICS.

The initiative forms part of the city’s broader Smart City Road Map, which promotes innovation and digital inclusion. Capacity-building workshops will be organised to equip local teams and communities with the necessary skills to operate emerging technologies effectively.

Officials described that the municipality aims to set an example for other African cities in leveraging technology to build safer, more resilient, and sustainable urban environments.

Photo: gorodenkoff / iStock