A R62-million fire station, launched by the Tshwane metro in October of last year to serve the residents of Mamelodi and Nellmapius, was still not operational.

Mamelodi residents this week complained that the station, situated next to Phomolong informal settlement in Mamelodi East, was currently nothing but a “white elephant” as no emergency services were being offered by it.

According to residents, only security guards could be seen tending to the permanently locked gate.

The guards were placed there in response to theft and vandalism that reportedly took place at the station in June of last year.

During the incident, guards were attacked, some were hospitalised, windows were destroyed and doors as well as  electrical cables at the station were stripped.

The station would go a long way in preventing and assisting with shack fires at the nearby informal settlement.

Dan Masemola from the Phomolong informal settlement said the Mamelodi community were ecstatic when they first heard they would finally be getting their own fire station.

“It meant we would no longer need to run around with water buckets while waiting for the emergency services to come and put out the fires,” said Masemola.

But now, according to Masemola, all residents see are locked gates and the security officials.

“Winter is around the corner. We usually experience a lot of shack fires due to unattended candle lights and paraffin stoves.

“The fire station was supposed to save lives,” said Masemola.

The community had already experienced two shack fires. Luckily no lives were lost, he said.

RESIDENTS SAY THE STATION WAS SUPPOSED TO SAVE LIVES:

Annah Mbatha, a hawker who runs her business next to the fire station, said it was built and finished before her eyes.

“The station was meant to save lives but now it is nothing but a white elephant.

“The freezing cold of winter will take more lives as shack fires are a major concern for us,” said Mbatha.

In July of last year, a family of 10 members were forced to sleep in a single house after their shacks and a storeroom were destroyed by fire in Mamelodi West.

The fire station was officially unveiled by Tshwane mayor Randall Williams and community safety MMC Karen Meyer last year.

It was announced that the fire station was completed and was expected to begin operations immediately after it was launched.

Tshwane emergency services department (ESD) spokesperson Charles Mabaso said indeed, the former MMC for Community Safety, Alderman Karen Mayer launched the Mamelodi fire station project and acknowledged the construction progress last year.

“We are aware of the concerns of the community,” Mabaso said.

“The project is about 97% complete. There are some construction compliance matters that the contractor is attending to, towards the issuing of an occupancy certificate.”

He said the station “could only be made operational when these steps are complete. Good progress is being done in that regard and the department is receiving regular feedback”.

In July of last year, a family of 10 members were forced to sleep in a single house after their shacks and a storeroom were destroyed by fire in Mamelodi West.