96 firefighters for WOF programme graduate in Mbombela
The group of recruits successfully went through vigorous training to be deemed as firefighters.
The Working on Fire (WOF) family has grown bigger in the past week as 96 new firefighters graduated during a pass-out parade at the Kishugu Training Academy in Mbombela on Friday September 9. The recruits completed the vigorous 24-day training after being selected in recruitment drives to top up existing teams that conduct the programme’s sought-after integrated fire management services.
The group were trained in various subjects including basic firefighting, herbicide application, vegetation management, and managing personal finance. The pass-out parade was a culmination of their hard work and these climate change warriors go back to their respective bases armed with specialised skills in veld and forest firefighting.
The WOF general manager in Mpumalanga, Martin Bolton, gave the keynote address during the ceremony and wished the new members of the family well as they reached another milestone in their firefighting journey.
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“Many within the WOF programme have been where you are today. We have seen selected youth begin amazing journeys in the firefighting industry, with some of them now in senior positions within this groundbreaking programme. Some have used it as a stepping stone, have exited, and are now occupying permanent positions in various sectors, including government and the private sector,” Bolton said.
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He added, “With South Africa’s youth facing a harsh economic climate and scarcity of employment opportunities, WOF is a beacon of hope for young men and women living in disadvantaged communities. The programme continuously lives by its objective of restoring dignity and the graduation was evidence that WOF fulfills this mandate.”
