Diepsloot residents storm fire station

This started over the weekend after EMS delayed in dispatching fire trucks to extinguish a blaze, which eventually razed more than 20 shacks. One person was injured but was treated and discharged over the weekend.

The situation nearly degenerated into a melee when residents stormed the township’s fire station on 16 August demanding answers over the alleged service delays when the shack fire broke out the night before.

Diepsloot DA councillor, Refilwe Mathembula said poor service delivery in Diepsloot was almost the norm. “The fire department insists that we should make a call to their call centre and get a reference number before they dispatch a truck. This system is not working,” said Mathembula.

He added that the one fire truck which the local depot had, was never available when needed.

Residents felt that EMS was giving them a raw deal after failing to arrive in time, even though the station was just a stone’s throw away from the site of the blaze.

But EMS is reportedly claiming that the station’s fire engine was out attending to another emergency at the time, adding that a smaller service vehicle responded to the scene shortly before a backup fire truck was called.

EMS spokesperson, Robert Mulaudzi, told media over the weekend that poor access to water in Diepsloot was one of the biggest challenges facing officials.

Mulaudzi was not available when Fourways Review tried to contact him for further comment.

Questions e-mailed to him were not responded to by the time of going to press.