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Floods, veld fires and violent storms that have devastated KwaZulu-Natal in recent years have prompted Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli to call for urgent climate action, warning that the province can no longer afford to “wait for disasters to strike.”
The Premier was addressing the Provincial Climate Change Council on Friday, 19 September, at the Archie Gumede Conference Centre in Durban, where government leaders, traditional authorities and stakeholders gathered to forge a stronger, coordinated response to the climate crisis.
Ntuli emphasised the need to shift from planning to implementation following the adoption of the Provincial Climate Change Action Plan last month. He urged departments to develop clear, time-bound strategies, and called on municipalities to play an active role in the Council’s work.
The Premier expressed concern at the lack of readiness across most municipalities, noting that only eThekwini Municipality had demonstrated a comprehensive understanding of climate-related disaster management.
“Too often municipalities only respond when disasters hit. This reactive approach is unacceptable. Prevention is better than cure,” Ntuli said. He encouraged municipalities to take advantage of empowerment platforms such as the Climate Change Council to build the necessary capacity and resilience.
Ntuli hailed the Provincial Climate Change Implementation Plan as both a safety net and an economic driver.
“If well implemented, this plan will not only strengthen our response to climate change but also attract investors and businesses to KwaZulu-Natal. It inspires new hope for a brighter future,” he added.
He further proposed that future Council meetings be hosted in climate-affected communities, ensuring government decisions are shaped by lived realities.
The Premier also confirmed KwaZulu-Natal’s participation in international climate change forums in New York and Brazil, where the province will lobby for resources and strengthen its response capacity.
Concluding the session, Ntuli reiterated his call for urgency and accountability:
“KwaZulu-Natal’s climate response must be organised, inclusive, and action-driven. To be forewarned is to be forearmed – and knowledge is our best defence.”
