‘No show’ fire crew under fire

THE uMlalazi Municipality is still awaiting a full report into alleged ‘inefficiencies’ of the Gingindlovu fire department after a home was razed to the ground last month when the brigade failed to turn up on time.

Gingindlovu resident, Stella Govender and her four children literally watched their home go up in flames on 27 March as they waited for the fire crew because there was reportedly ‘no driver for the fire truck’.

Two weeks ago, uMlalazi councillors called for a report detailing why the fire department were unable to respond to the disaster scene timeously as reported bythe public.

uMlalazi Municipal Manager Simon Mashabane told the Zululand Observer on Wednesday the final report would confirm whether the tender was allegedly leaking and ascertain the cause of the fire.

‘We are still waiting for the full report. We cannot take things at face value. We do not deny that the tender could have been leaking. We do not know, as yet. The truck has to be taken for a test,’ said Mashabane.

The family, assisted by neighbours frantically attempted to douse the fire with tap water at around 9am on that fateful day.

No one reportedly answered their calls to the local SAPS offices to alert the fire station of the situation.

A resident drove approximately 1km to the Gingindlovu fire station to call them. However, staff said they had ‘no driver for the big truck’ and two women subsequently arrived with a Land Cruiser, which could not produce enough pressure to effectively fight the fire.

Losing all of their belongings, the Govender family are now being temporarily housed at one of the recently completed low-cost houses in the area.

‘I thank the councillors for giving me another temporary home. I lost my husband two years ago so this has been a traumatic time for us,’ Govender told the Zululand Observer.

‘Monday will be one month since the fire. We do not have electricity here and I lost all my appliances in the blaze.

‘If the fire department had a proper driver and came on time, my three bedroom house or some of my furniture could have been saved. I collapsed when I saw my home on fire,’ said Govender.

Electricity

However, Mashabane said the entire area did not have electricity and the municipality was following the necessary supply chain management processes to ensure the power roll-out.

‘We will not take the house away until the family is secure. We have ensured a water connection for the family,’ said Mashabane.

Anyone wishing to assist the family, can contact Govender on 073 5180 207.