1. During the 2nd Term Programme of the Portfolio Committee on Provincial and Local Government, the Committee held hearings on the state of readiness of municipalities in respect of Disaster Management. At the end of these hearings with a range of provincial disaster management centres, the Committee resolved to visit some of these centres during the 3rd Term to gain an insight into the achievements and challenges being faced by these disaster management centres. The provincial visit took place from 9 - 12 October 2006.