Introduction: Waste generation has increased drastically around the world in recent decades, with less than 20% of waste recycled each year, and one-third of all food produced wasted. With Sustainable Development Goal 12 advocating for changing how we consume, produce, and dispose of items, the cruciality of driving a more sustainable future lies in how we dispose of our waste.Methodology: This study assessed the impacts of improper waste disposal on human health and the environment in the KwaZulu Natal Province of South Africa. The study applied a mixed-method pragmatic research approach, using Statistical Package for Social Scientists, and applied a series of Chi-Squared tests of independence, regression, and descriptive statistics to analyse data. This study has shed light on the complex dynamics surrounding the respondents’ awareness and perception of risks associated with improper waste disposal.Results: While a fair level of knowledge exists concerning the general risks, there are notable gaps in understanding specific aspects of human health risks related to improper waste disposal. Furthermore, the study findings highlight a critical disparity in awareness regarding specific human health risks associated with improper waste disposal.Discussion: This study has shed light on the complex dynamics surrounding the respondents’ awareness and perception of risks associated with improper waste disposal. This underscores the importance of enhancing public education and outreach programs to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the potential dangers to human health. The study municipality should explore sustainable waste management practices to mitigate the economic burden posed by increased waste generation.

Across the globe, crop-raiding has been known to have a significant impact on subsistence farmers livelihoods in developing countries. However, the relationship between crop-raiding and food security of small-scale farmers is not well-studied. We investigated the effects of crop-raiding on homestead food security of a subsistence farming community on the edge of the Hluhluwe Game Reserve in northern KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. We analyzed the relative calories lost to important food security crops (maize, common bean, spinach, and beetroot) damage by crop raiders. In addition, we conducted questionnaire surveys of resident farmers and conservationists of the Hluhluwe Game Reserve to explain the effect of crop-raiding on food security. We firstly assessed how crop loss influenced relative calorie loss as an indicator of food security by comparing relative calorie loss with two predictors of food security: homestead size and contribution of crops to the farmers' food basket. Larger homesteads were more prone to food insecurity as compared to smaller households as they experienced higher calorie loss, especially in terms of maize (Zea mays), the most important food security crop in South Africa. This was because maize contributed the highest (91–100%) to the homestead food basket of these farmers. Secondly, we assessed farmers and conservationists' perceptions and opinions on crop-raiding issues. Farmers reported maize as the crop most damaged by crop-raiding animals. Conservationists reported crop-raiding with other major problems in and around the Reserve; this showed that conservationists acknowledge the issue of crop-raiding as a problem for subsistence farming communities abutting protected areas. Both farmers and conservationists reported insects as the most damaging crop raider. Our study suggests that larger homesteads, particularly where maize contributes substantially to homestead food baskets, are more prone to food insecurity in the rural subsistence farming community that we studied. In concordance with many studies, insects were reported as the culprits by both farmers and conservationists. Small, ubiquitous animals, such as insects are reported to cause much crop damage where they occur. The findings of our study suggest that the food security of the studied farmers is threatened by crop-raiding.

Introduction: Floods are classified as one of the hydrological hazards affecting many countries worldwide. With most weather-related disasters occurring in developing countries, demographics and socioeconomic pattern changes have contributed to many losses relating to water-related disasters such as floods. South Africa is among the developing countries most frequently affected by natural disasters, particularly floods. Thus, this study assessed the causes and impact of floods on the communities of Bronville and Hani-park in Welkom in the Free State Province in South Africa.Methods: The study adopted a quantitative approach, using a structured questionnaire to collect the data. The study used an R statistical package to analyze the data and applied descriptive statistics and a series of Generalized linear models to examine the impacts of floods in the community.Results: The findings reveal a community-wide concern about flooding impacts. There was a statistically significant difference between whether floods affected your physical structure as an outcome variable and how the flooding affected participants (Wald χ₆² = 30.364; p = 0.001). Also, a significant difference was found regarding how floods affect the water quality in your community (Wald χ² = 1.496; p = 0.030). The subjective perception of flood impacts on households has been reported to be aligned with observed damage to physical structures, underscoring the direct influence of floods on various household elements. The study also emphasises the costly nature of flood recovery and the potential strain on household resources due to flooding. Respondents indicated floods adversely affect vegetation, soil stability, and ecological dynamics. he study also, reveals that while some residents affected by flooding reach out to their municipalities for support, many do not seek or receive financial assistance.Discussion: The study concludes that floods have a considerable socioeconomic impact on households and communities, particularly regarding repair costs for flood-related damages. In addition, the study concludes that floods have significant implications for drinking water quality in the community, with statistical evidence supporting the claim that floods contribute to water quality degradation. The findings of flood preparedness suggest a clear gap in early warning dissemination and evacuation planning tailored to the study community’s needs. The findings of this study underscore the urgent need for comprehensive and sustainable flood mitigation strategies in vulnerable communities like Bronville and Hani-park.

Disaster early warning systems are regarded as one of the key activities in the implementation of both disaster preparedness and response measures. The need to implement effective disaster early warning systems in Africa, in particular, dates back to the early nineties. Even before the UN Sendai conference, initiatives to improve existing early warning systems had already been identified. This study assessed flood resilience based on the dissemination of Early Warning Messages in Vosloorus Township. The study applied a quantitative approach by collecting data using a structured questionnaire and applying inferential statistics to analyse the data from 100 participants of two informal settlements of Vosloorus Extension 21 with a combined population size of 251. The study applied a series of one-way ANOVA tests separately, two separate General Linear models and one ordinal regression on R statistical software to address the objectives of this study. The study results showed the significant role that demographic characteristics play in shaping the understanding of disasters within the study community. These factors contribute to the community’s resilience, particularly in the dissemination of early warning messages. There appears to be a disconnect in translating this awareness into effective understanding and action based on EWMs. This disconnect may be related to how information is communicated and the general preparedness of the community. For communities where cellphone ownership is limited, alternative methods of delivering EWMs should be considered to ensure broader and more equitable access to crucial information. Addressing infrastructural issues such as electricity and internet access is also essential to improve the timeliness and efficiency of early warning systems.

Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies aims to engage, inform, and catalyse scholarly discourse within research and real-world practices that work towards the minimisation of vulnerabilities and disaster risks throughout developing communities with special emphasis on Africa.

The safety and well-being of learners with special educational needs in South Africa remain a paramount concern, significantly impacting their constitutional rights and dignity. Despite legislative commitments aimed at fostering inclusive education, a pervasive absence of adequate fire safety measures in special needs schools (SNSs) in South Africa has persisted, leading to the vulnerability of these learners. Tragic incidents, such as fatal fires in these schools, as reported in the literature, underscore the urgent need for immediate intervention to ensure the safety and security of these learners, especially with regards to fire hazards. This study, conducted within the Northwest Province of South Africa, assessed the state of fire safety management in SNSs by applying a series of chi-squared (χ²) tests of independence for categorical variables, descriptive statistics, and regression analysis using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS), Version 20 and found that limited access to power is the potential root cause of fires in these schools; also, the limited amount of fire safety initiatives was a problem. In addition, the ordinal regression showed a statistically significant relationship when the question of to what extent the learners in the sampled schools are involved in fire safety programs was regressed with the questions of whether management and stakeholders were involved in fire safety programs and also on taking part in the physical fire safety programs (χ² = 47.412; df = 2; p < 0.001; R² = 70.5%). Furthermore, fire safety management was not sufficiently implemented in the sampled schools and the safety legislations of the country were not implemented accordingly when it came to fire safety. This study identified root causes of fire risks, gauged stakeholders’ awareness and involvement in fire safety management, and advocated for more stringent safety policies and practices within the SNS based on the above findings.