Fire truck returns

The fire engine is back in town. This was the confirmation from Umtshezi’s Acting Municipal Manager Elphas Dladla.

The fire truck, which was taken away by Fleet Africa more than a week ago, was returned to Estcourt on Friday. A contractual dispute led to the truck being taken away.

On Monday afternoon, Mr Dladla confirmed that the fire truck was available to put out any fires that may occur.

“We still have issues with the imbalances in the contract, which need to be corrected as a matter of urgency,” said Mr Dladla.

He added that negotiations are taking place to ensure that plans are in place when the fire truck’s contract ends next April.

The contract stipulates that after the contract period, the fire truck goes back to Fleet Africa, which the municipality feels is a ‘rip off.’

“We won’t have an asset to account for, so we need to come up with an alternative to get something in place early,” concluded Mr Dladla.