Our firefighting heroes return
Three firefighters from Mogale City were among 200 on the Working on Fire-Kishugu Joint Venture team who assisted Canada recently.
Working on Fire-Kishugu Joint Venture’s 200 firefighters have returned from Canada after assisting the nation in battling infernos in the Alberta province.
Among those who put their lives on the line were three Mogale City firefighters namely Sipho Ntuli, Dumile Malete and Thatoemang Molefe who are all from either the Krugersdorp or Magaliesburg Working on Fire-Kishugu Joint Venture’s bases.
Thatoemang said firefighting is his calling and that he is dedicated to saving lives and properties. This was his third deployment and added that the mission had been accomplished as anticipated.
“I was physically and mentally fit during this deployment. We have accomplished what was set out to be achieved. I was representing my country well. The Working on Fire-Kishugu Joint Venture’s firefighters displayed discipline and dedication by ensuring their safety was not compromised,” he boasted.
These firefighters were first trained at the Kishugu Training Academy in Nelspruit to be equipped with the skills and knowledge of wildland firefighting.
Molefe said they had worked with firefighters from other parts of the globe, and that this was a testament to their competence. He said the Canadians appreciated their presence in battling the fires.
“We have made our contribution and that is very vital. It was also a learning curve as South Africa is not immune from the wildland fires. Climate change exacerbates the intensity, frequency, and spread of wildland fires.”
