I never could have imagined that seven workers lost their lives in this tragic accident. I immediately rushed over to the scene with the SAPS and found Ekurhuleni Emergency Services and EMPD already on the scene, where they helped several workers to safety. I jumped into survival mode and did what I could to help. I felt entirely helpless and soon realised that there was absolute chaos.
What seemed to me as community leader as chaos was in fact a very well-managed emergency scene. My brain was drowned in adrenalin, panicking about what to do next, when constable Riaan Venter of the Brackenhurst SAPS said: “Councillor relax – everything is under control.” With these words I noticed that everything was indeed under control. EMPD set up a parameter to control public access. Ekurhuleni emergency services established a mobile operation centre to coordinate the emergency scene. What seemed to me to be organised chaos was in fact a professionally executed search and rescue operation to find survivors under the rubble. In an instant I realised that the Ekurhuleni Emergency Services and Ekurhuleni Metro Police are indeed our hero’s.
These brave men and woman risk their lives every day to help the needy and save those who require saving. I experienced first-hand the dedication of Ekurhuleni Metro Staff and how they execute their duties in a professional en efficient manner – saving lives right in front of my eyes. I salute these brave men and woman. Our Emergency Services were out in force, lending a helping hand to the workers. The teams from our dedicated emergency services provided manpower and specialist equipment to the scene. They also provided skills to access and remove difficult material, and retrieve the bodies of those workers who lost their lives.
I am proud that our emergency services personnel play their part by working side by side with all stakeholders to save and rescue lives. Knowing that we have world-class emergency services, Metro Police and SAPS allowed me to bridge the gap with confidence, that if I ever have an emergency Ekurhuleni personnel will be there.
Ekurhuleni residents can be assured that EMPD and Ekurhuleni Emergency services are world-class and improve the quality of life for everyone. I would like to take a moment to think of those workers who lost their lives, and I would like to add my voice to those who expressed our most sincere condolences to those who lost their loved ones in this tragic accident.
