Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Communication management during the veld fires of 23 August 2011 in the Tlokwe Local Municipality : a cautionary tale

Wiggill, MN LU (2013) In Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies 5(2). p.1-9
Abstract
Background:
A veld fire disaster in the Tlokwe Local Municipality on 23 August 2011, resulted
in an estimated monetary loss of over R43 million. The veld fire disaster was characterised by a lack of strategic management and a subsequent lack of planned, coordinated communication between all role players involved. The lack of strategic communication management indirectly contributed to the losses suffered during the disaster, and afterwards relationships between many role players were strained.
Objectives and method:
The objectives for the qualitative research project were to determine the different role players’ perception of communication management during the veld fires of 23 August 2011, and in what way relationships... (More)
Background:
A veld fire disaster in the Tlokwe Local Municipality on 23 August 2011, resulted
in an estimated monetary loss of over R43 million. The veld fire disaster was characterised by a lack of strategic management and a subsequent lack of planned, coordinated communication between all role players involved. The lack of strategic communication management indirectly contributed to the losses suffered during the disaster, and afterwards relationships between many role players were strained.
Objectives and method:
The objectives for the qualitative research project were to determine the different role players’ perception of communication management during the veld fires of 23 August 2011, and in what way relationships between role players were affected by the lack of communication management during the veld fire disaster. Data were gathered by means of semi-structured interviews with the relevant role players.
Results and conclusion:
Most of the role players were convinced that communication was not managed effectively on 23 August 2011. It resulted in, most especially, a loss of trust
and perceived lack of commitment between some of the role players. It is recommended that emergency services and other role players receive more training (also focusing on communication management), participate in simulations and incorporate a communication and relationship management approach to disaster risk management. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Communication management, fire fighting, disaster management, Emergency Services
in
Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies
volume
5
issue
2
article number
#85
pages
9 pages
publisher
AOSIS
ISSN
2072-845X
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
c3af62d3-0531-49c4-9efa-1c98cc6eb0c9
date added to LUP
2019-07-03 08:55:04
date last changed
2019-07-10 12:34:11
@article{c3af62d3-0531-49c4-9efa-1c98cc6eb0c9,
  abstract     = {{Background: <br/>A veld fire disaster in the Tlokwe Local Municipality on 23 August 2011, resulted<br/>in an estimated monetary loss of over R43 million. The veld fire disaster was characterised by a lack of strategic management and a subsequent lack of planned, coordinated communication between all role players involved. The lack of strategic communication management indirectly contributed to the losses suffered during the disaster, and afterwards relationships between many role players were strained.<br/>Objectives and method: <br/>The objectives for the qualitative research project were to determine the different role players’ perception of communication management during the veld fires of 23 August 2011, and in what way relationships between role players were affected by the lack of communication management during the veld fire disaster. Data were gathered by means of semi-structured interviews with the relevant role players.<br/>Results and conclusion: <br/>Most of the role players were convinced that communication was not managed effectively on 23 August 2011. It resulted in, most especially, a loss of trust<br/>and perceived lack of commitment between some of the role players. It is recommended that emergency services and other role players receive more training (also focusing on communication management), participate in simulations and incorporate a communication and relationship management approach to disaster risk management.}},
  author       = {{Wiggill, MN}},
  issn         = {{2072-845X}},
  keywords     = {{Communication management; fire fighting; disaster management; Emergency Services}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{1--9}},
  publisher    = {{AOSIS}},
  series       = {{Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies}},
  title        = {{Communication management during the veld fires of 23 August 2011 in the Tlokwe Local Municipality : a cautionary tale}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/67104065/WiggillJambaVeldfires.pdf}},
  volume       = {{5}},
  year         = {{2013}},
}