Be Prepared for Next Flood in SA – Inaugural Lecture

‘Building Resilient Cities: South Africa’s Urgent Call to Prepare for the Next Flood’, was the title of a professorial inaugural lecture delivered by Professor Hangwelani Magidimisha-Chipungu of the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s (UKZN) Department of Town and Regional Planning.

Magidimisha-Chipungu is a National Research Foundation (NRF)-rated researcher, and a National Planning Commissioner.

The lecture formed part of the University’s tradition of recognising academic excellence, showcasing ground-breaking research, and celebrating the contribution of professors to scholarship, teaching, and societal advancement.

Opening the event, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the College of Humanities, Professor Nhlanhla Mkhize highlighted the significance of inaugural lectures describing them as key milestones in an academic career, offering professors an opportunity to reflect on their scholarly journey and present their research contributions to peers, students, collaborators and the broader community.

Dean and Head of the Social Sciences, Professor Federico Settler, noted that the lecture was “a testimony and reflection of the excellence of our colleague”, adding that it gave him “tremendous pleasure to be part of the informative lecture.”

Magidimisha-Chipungu is the first Black woman in South Africa to be awarded both a PhD and full professorship in Town and Regional Planning. She chairs the International Symposium on Inclusive Cities, serves as Chief Editor of the Journal of Inclusive Cities and the Built Environment, and has produced more than 120 publications while supervising over 65 postgraduate students. Her work has earned her numerous national and international awards, including recognition as a Woman of Influence in Academia.

Reflecting on her journey, she spoke candidly about the challenges, long nights, breakthroughs and unwavering support that shaped her path. She credited her family for being her “rock,” acknowledging their sacrifices, patience, and belief in her potential. She also expressed deep gratitude to mentors – local and international – whose guidance helped her push boundaries and break barriers. Addressing colleagues and friends, she emphasised that her achievements were deeply rooted in the support she received from UKZN, the institution where she earned her first degree.

In her lecture she stressed that reactive approaches and complacency were no longer adequate, calling instead for a paradigm shift toward comprehensive planning, early warning systems, sustainable urban design, and stronger community engagement.

Citing the World Meteorological Organisation, she noted that climate change and ecological degradation remained among the most critical global challenges, impacting ecosystems, economies, and society at large.

According to Magidimisha-Chipungu, climate impacts are unfolding more severely than previously anticipated, leaving planners and earth system scientists increasingly alarmed.

Red flag facts are:

• Oceans are warming, ice is melting, and rainfall patterns are becoming unprecedented
• South Africa signed the Paris Agreement nearly 10 years ago, yet the pace of progress in climate response and flood preparedness remains slow.

She revealed that in 2023, global temperatures hit the 1.5°C annual mean. At the current trajectory, the world could reach 2°C within 20 years and 3°C by the year 2100.

The financial toll is equally staggering. In 2010, the world spent $176 billion on flood recovery, and by 2050 the cost could soar to $4 trillion.

Referring to the devastating KwaZulu-Natal floods of 2022, Magidimisha-Chipungu highlighted:

• Over 270 000 people affected
• More than 600 schools damaged
• Severe impacts on healthcare facilities
• R1 billion in emergency aid from the National Treasury

She attributed the causes of such disasters to a combination of climate change, unplanned urbanisation, environmental degradation, socioeconomic vulnerabilities, and weak institutional and governance structures.

Her presentation underscored the importance of key components of flood management: prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.
“We need to protect vulnerable areas, reduce the impact of floods, strengthen early warning systems, act swiftly during emergencies, and learn from each event to restore normality,” she explained.

Said Magidimisha-Chipungu: “I call on stakeholders – government, civil society, and the private sector – to unite in a collective call to action. The time to invest in resilience is now; the time to act is today. Only through foresight, determination, and shared responsibility can we safeguard our future and turn vulnerability into resilience against the growing threat of floods.”

Click here to watch the inaugural lecture.

Words: Sinoyolo Mahlasela

Photograph: Supplied