Barriers to risk reduction: Dontse Yakhe, South Africa
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify hazard risks and factors impeding the implementation of disaster risk management policies and strategies in Dontse Yakhe in Hout Bay, South Africa.
Design/methodology/approach
A case study approach was selected for this research. Interviews were conducted with community leaders and other relevant government and civil society stakeholders. Insights and perceptions of Dontse Yakhe residents were obtained from a focus group interview. Secondary data sources were reviewed and field observations made.
Findings
The findings reveal a number of key risks and a complex web of geographical, political, social and environmental factors, and stakeholder interactions, prioritisations and decision making that has created barriers to the implementation of the aims and objectives of disaster risk management policies and strategies in Dontse Yakhe.
Originality/value
The contribution of the research is that it provides insight into the complex factors that are stalling development and infrastructure provision, and implementation of risk reduction strategies, in Dontse Yakhe as outlined in disaster risk management policies and strategies, demonstrating a gap between policy rhetoric and practice.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Our sincere thanks go to the residents of Dontse Yakhe for participating in this research, the three community leaders from Imizamo Yethu/Dontse Yakhe, the representative from the Hout Bay Residents ' Association, the representatives from Disaster Management Cape Town, the Cape Town City Council, and the South African National Parks Board (SANParks). Thank you to Nick Simpson, PhD student, UCT for assistance, and to the two anonymous reviewers for their helpful feedback on this paper. This research was supported by a Griffith University School of Education and Professional Studies International Collaboration Research grant.
Citation
Harte, W., Sowman, M., Hastings, P. and Childs, I. (2015), "Barriers to risk reduction: Dontse Yakhe, South Africa", Disaster Prevention and Management, Vol. 24 No. 5, pp. 651-669. https://doi.org/10.1108/DPM-03-2015-0056
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited