Note to Broadcasters: Please find linked soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Cllr Maritha Coetzee.
The DA in the City of Matlosana Local Municipality is concerned that the municipal Fire Department would not effectively be able to respond to fire emergencies due to a lack of resources following an oversight inspection of the department last week.
Hartbeesfontein and Orkney share one fire station, however, they are unable to operate effectively because they do not have fire trucks. The Stilfontein fire station has been abandoned.
Matlosana’s only operating fire station is in Klerksdorp with one fire engine, one hazmat truck, three grass fire vehicles, and three water tankers to fight fires over the entire Matlosana area. See images here and here.
The fire department employs 85 professional firefighters, but they are put at risk because despite the commitment and dedication, they lack the necessary equipment to effectively fight fires.
A single fire truck was purchased in 2006. The fire truck is supported by a 1999 International Truck and a 2006 Mercedes Truck which are both currently not operating for the past three to four months. Spare parts for the International Truck are no longer available in South Africa and the fire department has been waiting for spare parts since April this year.
We were informed that the fire department put in a request to the municipality for funding to purchase an additional fire truck, but that they were to obtain quotations and secure the funding for this purchase.
It is typical of the ANC in government to claim that the municipality does not have money to buy a new fire truck, but that it could find money to buy luxury vehicles for the mayor and the speaker to the value of R750,000.00 each.
The fire department could not attend to 75% of fires in the Hartbeesfontein and KOSH areas during the previous season. With another veldfire season about to start, or in the event of a major fire outbreak, this department would not be able to respond effectively to save lives, livelihoods, and property. Once again it is ordinary people who fall victim to the ANC’s failed governance.
The municipal fire department enjoys support from the Matlosana Firefighting Association, which is managed independently by farmers from a control room in Hartbeesfontein. The association assists with firefighting throughout Matlosana.
The lack of equipment at the disposal of the fire department is extremely concerning with the upcoming veld fire season.
Firefighters at the Matlosana Fire Department are professionally trained and fully competent. The team recently triumphed in a competition against 28 other teams in the Midvaal Local Municipality, bringing home a trophy and several medals. They should have access to all the equipment they need to do their jobs.
The DA will write to the Executive Mayor, Cllr James Tsolela, and the Municipal Manager, Lesego Seametso, to table a report to Council on the funding of the fire department over the last 5 financial years, a status report on the functionality of all equipment, and any plans to buy new fire fighting vehicles.