DA donates food and blankets to Diepsloot fire victims

Members of the party handed out food parcels to the families who were left vulnerable after a fire destroyed their homes and belongings.

DA councillor Refilwe Mathebula said, “Over the past few months I have been collecting donations from generous sponsors to aid the victims of fires that continue to wreak havoc in Diepsloot, and this is the third donation we have made after yet another fire broke out in the area.”

Read Matrics hit hard by Diepsloot fire disaster

According to Mathebula, when the fire broke out, community members were forced to put out the fire themselves after Emergency Management Services (EMS) allegedly failed to respond.

In trying to help, the councillor called Diepsloot Fire Station, but she said she was was sent from pillar to post. She then resorted to contacting the Diepsloot Police Station, however, they also failed to come to the aid of the community.

Earlier last month, DA shadow MMC for Public Safety, councillor Michael Sun, held a press conference where Johannesburg firefighters shared their daily struggles while working for the City’s EMS. Their long list of challenges included inadequate resources and long and irregular working hours. However, MMC for Public Safety, councillor Sello Lemao, maintained that all was well in his department.

The DA has taken the matter up with the City of Johannesburg and has called on Executive Mayor Parks Tau, to urgently intervene to resolve the issue so that the lives of firefighters and communities were no longer at risk.

Mathebula also thanked all the generous donors who continued to respond to the party’s call for assistance.

“The people of Diepsloot deserve better,” she concluded.

Details: Refilwe Mathebula 082 973 5150.

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