After two of Krugersdorp Fire Department’s fire engines were seen being towed to a workshop on Friday, 13 January, the News investigated a rumour that the station only had two vehicles left – and what was then discovered was shocking.
Numerous concerned residents informed the News that the department only had three vehicles that were in working condition.
To ensure the News had the correct information, the West Rand District Municipality, which is in control of the Krugersdorp Fire Department, was contacted.
The municipality was asked, on 17 January, among other questions, if the rumours were true. Max Maxeke, the WRDM spokesperson, responded to the questions two days later (19 January). He informed the News that the station has five vehicles in total – two fire engines, two smaller tankers/ Land Cruisers carrying water and one Combination Fire and Rescue Vehicle.
He confirmed that on 13 January three vehicles were towed to the workshop, stating, “Three vehicles were towed to the service provider for urgent repairs”.
When asked how many of the vehicles allocated to the station were in a working condition, Maxeke replied: “All above mentioned vehicles are in a fair working condition, however currently four of the above vehicles are in the workshop for various mechanical repairs”. This means that at the moment, the fire department only has one working vehicle.
No-one can say how long it will take for these vehicles to be returned to the fire department and brought back into service. According to Maxeke, “The agreement between the municipality and the service provider is that when fire vehicles are taken in for repairs such will be treated with the necessary urgency owing to the essential nature of the service the vehicles perform”.
Maxeke went on to say the sources that had contacted the News were not reliable and did not provide us with the right information. He continued: “It must also be put on record that your very reliable source has this time around partially misconstrued the facts, in that the fire department of the West Rand District Municipality does not only have rescue vehicles and no fire engines for the entire city of Mogale”.
With regard to the Mogale City emergency line not working, Maxeke said that since the department now falls under the WRDM, community members should make use of the latter’s website for information. The website of the West Rand District Municipality is www.wrdm.gov.za.
Maxeke also defended the department with regard to their radios not working, stating: “Each fire station in the region was issued with new Tetra radios to enhance effective communication between the vehicles, the stations and the 107 Centre”.
He concluded by promising that more vehicles would be allocated to the Krugersdorp Fire Department soon.
“One must also inform your good self that over and above the five recently delivered fire and rescue vehicles, the West Rand District Municipality has procured five more fire and rescue medium pumpers which will be delivered in the first week of February,” he stated.
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Krugersdorp allegedly has no fire trucks
No response from fire department
