Smoke alarms bring safety to Kameeldrift East homes
A joint effort between the metro and Red Cross equips Kameeldrift East residents with smoke detectors and training to prevent devastating fires.
More than 500 households in the Kameeldrift East Informal Settlement can now sleep a little safer at night after the rollout of security features in their homes.
Tshwane metro recently embarked on a large-scale smoke detector installation project, aimed at preventing tragedies caused by fires in the informal settlement.
The initiative is a partnership with the South African Red Cross Society (SARCS) and the metro’s Emergency Services Department (EMS), and was unveiled by Deputy Mayor Eugene Modise, alongside Hannes Coetzee, the MMC for Community Safety.
According to the metro, the programme is designed to address the high risk of fires in informal settlements, where households often rely on paraffin stoves, candles, and other open-flame sources for cooking, heating, and lighting.
In these settings, a small spark can quickly escalate into a devastating fire, destroying homes and endangering lives.
The SARCS donated 500 smoke detectors, while an additional 100 units were supplied by the Provincial Disaster Management Centre.
EMS spokesperson Nana Radebe-Kgiba said these contributions enabled the installation of 600 smoke detectors, ensuring coverage for some of the most vulnerable households.
She said priority was given to the elderly, child-headed families, and people living with disabilities.
“This project is part of a broader effort to equip community members with essential knowledge and practical experience on fire risk identification, assessment, and reduction measures.
“The Kameeldrift community showed interest in learning the emergency number and what to do in an emergency incident.
“The metro has recorded an alarming increase of at least 1 100 structural fires in the past financial year, hence the drive to educate communities on measures to reduce structural fires,” said Radebe-Kgiba.
Chairperson of the Section 79 Community Safety Committee Neo Mocumi praised the project as a proactive step toward reducing fire-related injuries and losses.
“This initiative is not only about compliance but about restoring dignity, building resilience, and protecting the most vulnerable among us.
“The installation of smoke detectors is a small yet powerful intervention that could save countless lives,” said Mocumi.
Residents also received hands-on training on how the devices work, how to maintain them, and what actions to take when a smoke detector is triggered.
Police and emergency response teams assemble with their marked vehicles at the Kameeldrift East community grounds.
Demonstrations were carried out on-site, equipping families with practical knowledge to act quickly in the event of an emergency.
The metro believes this pilot programme could serve as a model for other high-risk areas if more resources and sponsorships become available.
Mocumi has called on businesses, civic organisations, and other stakeholders to come on board to support the expansion of this life-saving initiative.
“Community safety cannot be achieved by government alone. We need partnerships that allow us to extend this project to every settlement in Tshwane where fire risk threatens lives and livelihoods.”
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