Property owners who ignore safety hazards on their premises now face a maximum fine of E50 000 or five years in prison as the National Disaster Risk Management Authority (NDRMA) begins a major legal crackdown.
Operating locally as Umvalo Wesive, the authority announced that it will use its full legal powers to prosecute landlords and building managers who fail to address dangerous conditions.
The strict enforcement drive comes under the newly enacted Disaster Risk Management Act, which aims to reduce public vulnerability ahead of unpredictable natural disasters. 
According to an official briefing from the NDRMA, the E50 000 financial penalty is designed to deter property owners from neglecting structural and operational safety standards.
The authority explained that safety inspectors are now legally empowered to enter and evaluate any premises suspected of posing a serious risk of injury or death to the public.
The targeted hazards include blocked emergency exits, unsafe electrical wiring, unstable structures and neglected fire safety measures, all of which can become life-threatening during a major crisis.
When an inspection reveals these hazardous conditions, the property owner is issued a formal administrative directive to carry out remedial action.
According to the Authority, this directive specifies a strict period within which repairs or modifications must be completed to improve public safety.
Under the new guidelines, failing to comply with the directive without a valid, written justification is classified as a criminal offence, leading directly to court prosecution, where the E50 000 fine or jail time will be pursued.
The NDRMA revealed that the substantial fine reflects the gravity of ignoring public safety in an environment increasingly prone to severe weather events.
In its public statement, the authority challenged property owners to inspect their own holdings immediately to avoid facing the legal and financial consequences.
The regulatory body noted that common omissions, such as locked fire escapes, deteriorated roofs, or faulty internal wiring, significantly worsen the impact of localised emergencies.
Furthermore, the authority clarified that the courts retain the power to impose both the E50 000 fine and the five-year prison sentence simultaneously for extreme cases of negligence.
This standard applies to both commercial and residential property managers who deliberately ignore formal warning notices.
The NDRMA stated that the period for voluntary compliance has officially closed, and the focus has now shifted to active legal accountability to prevent preventable casualties.
According to the Authority’s brief, the nationwide enforcement campaign forms a central part of the country’s broader strategy to move away from reactive disaster management toward proactive risk reduction.
Landlords and business operators are urged to audit their properties immediately to ensure they comply with national safety codes before field inspectors visit their premises.
Property owners seeking to review specific inspection criteria, verify compliance standards, or access official safety guidelines are advised to consult the NDRMA.
