Seven firefighters from R’fontein recruited by Working on Fire
'I want to contribute as we are the frontline army against deadly fires in our areas' – one of the recruits.
Working on Fire (WoF) Kishugu Joined Venture Gauteng has recruited seven brave men and women from Rand West City.
Gontse Matsola, Sakhile Mathenjwa, Nkosinathi Radebe, Kgomotso Pule, Ruben Greaver, Andile Mgcwabe and Palesa Maphanga joined the WoF team.
Provincial communication officer for WoF Parapara Makgahlela said these newly recruited firefighters had undergone 25 days of extensive training at the Kishugu Training Academy on wildland firefighting in Nelspruit.
Matsola (20) who hails from Mohlakeng, said fires pose a major threat to people’s lives across the globe and he intends to do something about it.
“I am ready and dedicated to serve my community with great distinction and mitigate the fire risks that landowners and farmers confront daily. The WoF programme has been around for the past 20 years battling these infernos locally and internationally and I want to contribute as we are the frontline army against deadly fires in our areas,’’ he said.
Matsola has already battled seven blazes since his return as an official firefighter.
“On the first day of firefighting I was nervous because the fire was out of control but experienced firefighters guided us in battling the blaze,’’ he explained.
Crew leader Katlego Molapo said the seven new firefighters will strengthen the morale and the activeness of the team as a whole.
He is also one of the many brave firefighters who recently returned from Canada to battle fires in the Alberta province where an estimated 16 million hectares is reported to have been burnt.
