AFTER close to 40 years of serving Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality residents with distinction, Shane Brown, the city’s head of disaster management, has retired.
Brown, who turned 62 last month, joined the then Port Elizabeth Municipality in 1984 as a clerk in the housing department in Korsten. He worked his way up to the higher echelons of the metro and in 2003 was appointed into the position of head of disaster management, a responsibility he enjoyed, as he helped residents in most times of disaster.
“I have worked in the municipality for 39 years. It has been such a fulfilling experience and I really enjoyed helping people. We were dealing with reducing disaster risks and responding efficiently to disaster-related incidents. We dealt directly with people who were affected by disaster and ours was to provide help to them, to reassure them that they were not alone,” said Brown who also acted in the position of executive director for NMBM safety and security.
As acting head of disaster management, Brown played a pivotal role in the establishment of the city’s disaster management unit; he was later appointed as the first head of disaster management in 2003.
Some of the highlights of his career include the acknowledgement he received from former council speaker, Roxanne Jordaan, for exceptional service to communities during a flood, meeting the late former president Nelson Mandela, heading up the 2010 FIFA World Cup team for safety and security, helping the city through the COVID-19 pandemic and assisting communities in distress.
However, he says his biggest milestone was marrying his wife, Sharon, whom he married 32 years ago, on November 3.
His last day was October 31 and he plans to spend his well-earned retirement with his grandchildren, gardening and fishing.
“I’m really going to miss my staff members, the council and interacting with the city’s external stakeholders including the members of the media. I have always maintained good working relations with the media.
“Together we have worked together on some human interest stories, locally and internationally. But I do look forward to enjoying myself now.
“I’m still trying to get used to the new routine, and I still wake up early. I will be relocating outside the city and I’m just looking forward to spending time with my family, which includes our two dogs,” added Brown.
NMBM Executive Mayor, Councillor Retief Odendaal, has thanked Brown for his service to the Municipality and its people and said his dedication had seen the City manage the worst disasters.
“We wish Shane all the best as he starts this new journey. He has really served us as residents of this city with distinction. His wisdom saw us manage the COVID-19 pandemic and even this drought crisis we are faced with currently,” Odendaal said.
“We are confident that his wisdom has been passed on to the team he leaves behind so that they can take the baton and continue with the good work.”
– ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE NELSON MANDELA BAY MUNICIPALITY BY MEDIA LIAISON OFFICER, MAMELA NDAMASE
