Women fire fighters complete training

MBOMBELA – Women have taken their rightful position in the workplace to help creating change in the country.

This was highlighted by the MEC for the economic development, environment and tourism (Dedet), Ms Pinky Phosa during a passing-out parade of 32 female firefighters on Monday.

This was after the young women from different provinces in the country, underwent an intensive “all-female crew leader” training course as part of the government-funded Working on Fire (WoF) Programme’s ambitious plan to create more leadership opportunities for women in the veld- and forest firefighting industry in South Africa.

“I love the change I see in front of my eyes. I could write a poem about this. The ANC-led government has played an important role in making sure women’s rights are applied and practised, changing the sexist attitude that leads to women abuse,” said Phosa.

She commended the ladies of fire for their courage and boldness as their discipline enabled them to enter a terrain that was historically dominated by men.

“Looking at you, I can tell that you are disciplined. Your posture, dance and walk show that you mean business with your careers. I can boldly assure the abusive men out there that they are in trouble,” Phosa continued, praising the women.

During her keynote address, the deputy minister of water and environmental affairs, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi, congratulated the graduates and encouraged them to inspire others to follow their example and realise that opportunities to progress were not always found in obvious places.

Mabudafhasi added that the course taught women how to deal and cope with the psychological and emotional challenges of being crew leaders.

“These women were put through various physical exercises to ensure that they are physically strong and that they will be able to cope with the strenuous work environment of being in the fire line and through their discipline, they made it,” she added.

WoF is a leading job-creation and poverty alleviation programme and recruits and trains young people to become professional veld and forest firefighters. These firefighters come from marginalised communities and WoF provides them with fire awareness and education, prevention and fire suppression skills. There are currently more than 5 000 beneficiaries in the programme, of whom 85% are youths and 32% women – the highest percentage in any comparable fire service in the world.

Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Ms Selaelo Makgabane said they were pleased with their achievement even though the job was dangerous and came with a huge responsibility. “We are ready to face the world after undergoing a journey that has taken us out of the room of fear and into the comfort zone of leadership,” she proudly said.

The women will be put on an intensive three-month mentoring period at their bases throughout South Africa where they will be expected to also lead their teams in fire suppression, prescribed burning and fire awareness education-related activities.

“After such intensive training, the mentoring period does not scare us, we are ready for anything!” concluded Makgabane.