An angry parent from Endumeni has spoken openly against the employment of four fire fighters by the Endumeni Municipality. According to Mr Sikhosane, who conctacted the Courier, his son has been a fire fighter volunteer at Endumeni Municipality for the past three years.
Mr Sikhosane said there are six volunteers, including his son, who have been hired by the council and that they are receiving a stipend of about R1000 a month on a contract basis.
Mr Sikhosane said he received information that there are about four fire fighters who will be participating in a KZN Provincial Fire Fighters Programme.
“It was very strange to me how the council employs people who are not qualified instead of absorbing people who have been volunteering for so many years helping the entire town,” he fumed. He added that the Head of Disaster Management at the Umzinyathi District Council, Mr Radebe, had discussed the issue with him which ended in an exchange of words.
He claimed that he was told that ‘people who talk to me like this are dead’. After that, his son’s contract was cancelled. “I was also surprised to discover that candidates chosen to participate in the fire fighting training programme are over 30. We thought it was for young people.”

‘They must have a valid driver’s licence and be physically fit. Applicants must be employed by the municipality for the fire fighting service. In the case of unemployed applicants, the municipality must make a commitment to employ trainees after completion of the learnership.’
The Courier is aware of four names of people who will be attending the fire fighters programme. According to the conditions for acceptance in the fire fighter learnership programme, (NQF4) fire fighter level one and two must have a matric certificate, must be between 18 and 35 years of age. They must have a valid driver’s licence and be physically fit. Applicants must be employed by the municipality for the fire fighting service. In the case of unemployed applicants, the municipality must make a commitment to employ trainees after completion of the learnership.
Mr Sikhosane’s son is a qualified fire fighter who obtained his certificate in Impact Emergency Technology Fire and Rescue at EMS College in Welkom.

He also received a certificate of Basic Ambulance Assistance in the category of Supervised Practice. Endumeni Council Speaker, Siduduzo Mdluli, told the Courier that the Provincial Government gave them a funding to train young people as fire fighters as part of job opportunities. He said the candidates were identified and they will be part of the pool of fire fighters who are volunteers at Endumeni. Later the Courier received news that Mr Sikhosane’s son was told that the Umzinyathi District Council ‘does not have money and he won’t be paid’.