A fire broke out at a complex in Vorna Valley on 17 May, and members of the community expressed their concerns about the City’s fire department after fire trucks arrived at the scene an hour after residents reported the blaze.
Phil Mabela, a nearby neighbour, said that he was awoken by screams at around 10pm, and when he checked through his window, he saw smoke and flames. “I quickly went to the patio to get a better view and saw a big fire coming out of my neighbour’s bedroom.
He added, “At that moment I decided to rush everybody in my apartment out before the fire could reach my apartment.”
Mabela said that he then went to check if his neighbour was not harmed, but she assured him she was fine. After that, he and his neighbours tried to put out the fire.
“While we were busy putting the fire out I decided to go to the Midrand Fire Station.
“When I got there, they were not able to help me, so I went to the Midrand Police Station and they called the City’s emergency services.”
Mabela said a lady from the emergency services told him they were aware of the matter and had already sent a truck to the complex.
Simon Nyakudya, who is the security supervisor of the complex, said that the fire brigade arrived after an hour to assess and check if the residents did fully stop the fire.
In response to the matter, Public Safety MMC Michael Sun said a contract for fire engines to be supplied was in place before he came into office.
“We ran with the contract, but the supplier was not capable of delivering the trucks, so an investigation was made into it and the contract was cancelled.
“A few fire engines were salvaged. A tender was re-advertised, which also failed due to a supplier dropping out.
“But plans have been put in place to fix the issue at hand.”
A video of the fire was posted on the Vorna Valley Residents Association Facebook Page:
