Metro fire stations short of 1 104 positions
Ekurhuleni has the highest shortage with 57 per cent, compared to Gauteng as a whole, which sits at 35 per cent
EKURHULENI Metro fire stations are currently in need of 1104 (of a required 1928) people to fill vacant positions at the city’s various departments.
Fire stations across Gauteng municipalities are critically under-resourced by at least 35 per cent.
Ekurhuleni is the hardest hit, sitting with a shortage of 57 per cent, and accounts for 24 per cent of the provincial vacancy rate. This is followed by the City of Johannesburg and Tshwane.
This is according to a written reply posed by the DA to Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Jacob Mamabolo. Of the 2932 available positions, there is currently a shortfall of 1602 firefighters in the province, as well a serious equipment deficits.
“These shortfalls were recently highlighted when the Khutsong Fire Station responded to a fire at the local SAPS barracks in a bakkie and not an official fire truck. Further, two firefighters in the Johannesburg CBD recently tragically lost their lives when responding to a fire, allegedly due to a lack of basic equipment,” Ina Cilliers, DA MPL and Constituency Head for Merafong, said in a statement.
This response also comes at a time of year when Gauteng residents, particularly in rural areas, are faced with veld fires – placing many communities, their farms and homes at risk.
Luckily, there is no shortage of vehicles at the Kempton Park Fire Station, but there is a shortage of three positions that need to be filled by one officer and two shift commanders.
For Tembisa, two shift commanders are needed and no data was provided for the officer’s vacancy and equipment shortage.
Despite efforts by unions to address the poor working conditions, firefighters have reported non-improvement in working conditions.
Firefighting can be life-threatening work and the brave men and women who take up this call deserve to be equipped with everything they need to protect not only themselves but those they are trying to help.
The DA will continue to fight for an overhaul of the province’s firefighting capacity and for the provision of fire prevention kits to informal settlements.
Until the shortfall of staff and equipment is addressed, it will continue to place the lives and livelihood of the residents of Gauteng at risk.
On a lighter note, the reply also reports that the Albertina Sisulu Corridor Fire Station is currently being constructed and will be completed by June 2016/2017.
This fire station, worth about R30-million, will serve the heart of the Aerotropolis and the rapid developments emerging in the area.
Ekurhuleni has also created employment through its Fire Brigade Reserve Force Team of about 400 part-time firefighters who work half the number of shifts worked by full-time members.
Furthermore, the city has also adopted a Community Emergence Response Team Programme for all 119 informal settlements in the city.
