The Matjhabeng Fire Brigade does not meet the required standard prescribed by law, and as a result houses are burning to the ground as fire engines are arriving without water in their tanks.
Currently there are not enough fire engines, fire fighters or even satellite fire stations, especially in the previously disadvantaged areas, to keep the residents of Matjhabeng safe when fire breaks out.
“The municipal manager has conceded that no proactive steps have been taken to get the Matjhabeng Fire Brigade to meet the required standards as prescribed by law,” says Councillor Igor Scheurkogel.
On 21 November the residents of 11 Watermeyer Street, Jan Cillerspark, had to watch as their house burned down because the Matjhabeng Fire Brigade twice arrived at the scene with no water in the fire truck.
Six days later, on 27 November, tragedy struck again – this time at 55 Erleigh Boulevard, Odendaalsrus.
Again the residents had to helplessly stand and watch as their house burned down. The fire truck eventually arrived, but it only had a half a tank of water.
By this time a private company had extinguished the fire.
Scheurkogel believes the fire department’s dysfunctionality is a direct result of cadre deployment, putting the lives of residents at risk 24/7.
He says Ward Councillor René Steyn has been working around the clock to gather food and supplies to assist the family in need.
“We call on the community to assist or donate to the family and contact Councillor Steyn to connect with the family. We will write to the Free State Department of Cooperative Governance to intervene and ensure assistance from the provincial government and the Lejweleputswa District Municipality to support the failing Matjhabeng Municipality Fire Brigade,” says Scheurkogel.
