Disaster management in shambles

LYDENBURG – It has been three years since two toddlers lost their lives during a house fire in Steyn Street.

The disaster highlighted the total disarray in which the Disaster Management Centre of Thaba Chweu Municipality (TCM) was functioning.

The outdated Husky-firefighting bakkie never reached the scene, breaking down halfway before being towed back to town for repairs. The two toddlers, Angelique (3) and Nico (2) van Niekerk burnt to death in their bedroom despite the desperate attempts of local paramedics to drowse the flames.

When the ”turnaround strategy” was presented to the paper last year, one of the key areas that were supposed to be addressed included TCM’s disaster management. The report stated that the centre had a shortage of vehicles, equipment (for fire and rescue) and fire trucks. The required intervention was said to procure vehicles and equipment. The timeframe for completion of the said ”refurbishment” was December last year.

The newspaper sent through queries to TCM regarding the state of the disaster management. Steelburger/Lydenburg News also contacted the acting HOD of this department, Mr Piet Mkhonto, to find out if any equipment or vehicles have been delivered yet.

“We have nothing to work with. There is an emergency plan, but how are we supposed to follow it with no equipment at hand? What if a disaster strikes tomorrow? We will not be able to assist,” Mkhonto said. For years this department had to function with outdated fire engines including a Ford F250, Husky fire truck and a 1950’s Bedford truck.

Both the Ford and Husky have been non-operational for an extended period of time. The Bedford finally called it quits after it spewed flames returning from a water fill which left TCM with no emergency unit.

DA Cllr Farhat Essack responded to the situation and said that the issue of the centre’s equipment and vehicles has come before council on four occasions in the last 24 months. “The ANC had its own views and refused various proposals, quotations and tenders by ‘n local company, N3 Fire and Rescue.

He said the mayor, Mr Michael Ncongwane insisted that he had made arrangements with Ehlanzeni District Municipality to supply vehicles and equipment to TCM and nothing has arrived yet. “They have no regard for law and basic service delivery.” He explained that as long as a company which tendered for this service was not connected in the right places where certain individuals could gain financially, then sadly, nothing will happen and this has been proven when innocent families’ lives are lost and property destroyed due to poor leadership.

The newspaper asked to be informed how many vehicles were operational, and if we could be given a copy of the municipality’s emergency plan of whether this department has sufficient emergency equipment and where the emergency vehicles are stationed.

Mr Godfrey Nkosi responded to the questions and told the newspaper people are not aware of the fact that there are currently three big firefighting trucks. “They are back from service. I can also confirm that a fire engin is coming to town from another municipality, in fact, it was suppose to have arrived last week Friday.”

Nkosi said that at the moment there is sufficient firefighting vehicles and equipment available. “In case of a disaster, we can call on support from neighbouring municipalities. We have measures in place. We cannot be in violation of the Disaster Management Act.”

INFO BLOCK

According to the Disaster Management Act No 57 of 2002, all municipalities must have emergency plans and the resources in place to respond to incidents.

The local municipality may sometimes have to request support from the District Municipality to assist if they themselves aren’t able to cope.

In simple terms the Disaster Management Act is about all spheres of government, sectors within government, community and business working along to reduce the risk of disasters and to ensure that arrangements are in place to minimise the impact of disasters on the community. In particular it recognises the need to place a special emphasis on the most vulnerable in our communities.

The Disaster Management Act calls this a continuous and integrated multi-sectoral, multi-disciplinary process of planning, and implementation of measures which are aimed at

• Preventing or reducing the risk of disasters

• Mitigating the severity or consequences of disasters

• Emergency preparedness

• A rapid and effective response to disasters and

• Post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation.