Emergency Services denies late response to shack fire

EMS spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi yesterday told The Citizen the fire truck was in repairs after it had been involved in an accident. A smaller service vehicle was then dispatched to the scene shortly before a backup fire truck was called on Saturday.

He said the residents did not complain about delays or poor service and what they demanded was the engine truck be put back in operation.

Residents reportedly stormed into the fire station yesterday demanding answers over the alleged service delays when the shack fire broke out, Fourways Review reported.

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 the fire truck the local depot had was never available when needed. Mulaudzi confirmed 16 people were injured.

In a separate incident, Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS) denied responding late to the fire in which DJ Clive ‘C-Live’ Shabalala’s son, 11, died last month.
Nadif Kgoleng was killed after a fire engulfed his father’s house in Bez Valley shortly after 10pm.

The Johannesburg EMS was responding to comments made by the ward 66 councillor, Carlos da Rocha.

“Though I don’t blame them for the death of the child, it took more than 15 minutes to get to the scene and more than 15 minutes to connect to the hydrant before the firefighters could start extinguishing the fire.

“The Fairview Fire Station is about two minutes from the scene when there is no traffic. There is no reason for them to take that long,” he said.

EMS spokesperson Nana Radebe said the Berea Fire Station was the appropriate station to respond.

“According to our work demarcation, Bez Valley is serviced by the Berea Fire Station. The Fairview Fire Station caters for Jeppe and the surrounding areas.

– Caxton News Service