Fifteen unemployed youths to benefit from Fire Hydrant initiative
The initiative directly benefits 15 previously unemployed people who are being trained to inspect and maintain about 3 500 hydrants, from the 25 000 fire hydrants in Tshwane.
Fifteen youths across the Tshwane metro are part of a newly launched initiative that aims to keep residents safe from fires.
The youth are dubbed FireHydrantHeroes and are from areas such as Akasia, Soshanguve, Hammanskraal and Mamelodi.
The Fire Hydrants initiative was launched at Tshwane central fire station in Bosman Street on Tuesday to promote fire safety and empower local youths.
It is expected to run for six months.
The launch is at the backbone of a White Paper on Fire Services issued in 2020 by the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta).
The policy highlights the need for a co-ordinated and integrated fire prevention and safety response.
The initiative directly benefits 15 previously unemployed people who are being trained to inspect and maintain about 3 500 hydrants, from the 25 000 fire hydrants in Tshwane.
The maintenance will include cleaning, painting, marking hydrants with numbers and testing water pressure, while faulty hydrants will be recorded for referral to the relevant department.
The 15 personnel will also assist Tshwane emergency service teams in locating hydrants via an app specially developed for the project.
Tshwane Emergency Services Department acting Chief Tanja Terblanché said through this project, Tshwane could now provide useful fire hydrants.
“While many of the buildings adhere to building regulations and standards, not all guarantee life safety of occupants in the building.”
Terblanché said many buildings in the city were very old and some were dilapidated.
“Most of these buildings have not been maintained and do not comply with the recent requirements related to safety.”
She said in many incidents, the Tshwane EMS would respond to emergencies, unable to locate their own hydrants, due to non-marking and overgrowth of vegetation among other issues.
“Buildings in the capital city are very important for economic growth and the initiative will ensure they are safe.”
Tshwane mayor Randall Williams said the metro was honoured to be the second city chosen, after a pilot initiative in the Kouga local municipality.
He said the partnership was driven by the mounting concerns of fire risks in urban areas as more people flock to the cities.
This is also after the Steve Biko academic hospital in Tshwane suffered two fires in less than two weeks, while several devastating fires have left Pretoria residents reeling in Pretoria West, Moot and the east of Pretoria, this year.
Williams said fires were expected to intensify throughout 30 years to come, with vulnerable communities at risk.
“The City welcomes this investment in the talent of our young people. This diverse group of young people have expressed excitement over this project.”
Youth beneficiary Muhle Kgatlhiso Mkhonto said she felt blessed to have been chosen to be a part of the initiative.
“The initiative has significantly impacted my life, especially after being unemployed since Covid-19.
“I was one of the unemployed youth in our country’s high stats; however, today I can feed myself and assist my family.”
Mkhonto said today’s youth faced various challenges and initiatives such as the hydrant project, were needed to assist with unemployment.
Bongani Mokgawa said he was also grateful that he could assist in preserving lives.
“It would be almost impossible to extinguish a fire that breaks out if there’s no accessible hydrant, meaning we could lose our beloved residents or valuable items.”
The youth reminded residents that hydrants were not to wash cars, taxis and busses in the city centre.
The initiative is a private and public partnership between Hollard Insure the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC), an agency of Cogta and the Tshwane metro.
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