City of Joburg confirms only six fire engines are operating for the entire city
JOBURG – The issue has come into the spotlight after recent house fires where local fire stations could not respond, Joburg residents responded to the shocking number on Twitter.
City of Johannesburg Executive Mayor Herman Mashaba has confirmed that there are only six fully functioning fire engines in the City of Joburg.
The issue of fire engines has come into the spotlight after recent house fires in Joburg, Fourways Review previously published an article Broadacres fire causes stir [Week ending 3 July] where MMC for Public Saftey Michael Sun said that there are 10 to 12 fire engines operating in the city saying the number drops at times due to repairs.
The mayor’s confirmation that only six fire engines are operating correlates to local residents in Broadacres who had information that only a few are operating after a fire engine from Cosmo City responded to a fire at a Broadacres estate, not a local fire station in Lonehill or Diepsloot which had no operating fire engine.
Mashaba responded on his Twitter page after a resident said there were only two fire engines in the whole of Joburg, “The @CityofJoburgZA currently has six fully functional fire engines, six on repairs to be ready next week, a new order of new fire engines to be shortly announced, unprecedented in the history of local government in SA.”
Some more facts:
4. Some fire stations have zero fire engines.
5. Six and even 12 fire engines is far too few for a city the size and complexity of Jhb.
6. Even with the new 28 fire engines we are still well below what is required.
7. This problem has been ignored for 3 years— Matt Collier (@matt_collier77) July 3, 2019
Mashaba admitted that the number of fire engines fully functioning is inadequate for the city, he blamed the dire situation on the previous administration, “We inherited a fraudulent tender when we took over power and had to restart process.”
Joburg residents aired their views on the number:
6 engines is the best he can do?? Is he building the engines in his own garage?!! LOL. This is gross negligence! @Our_DA = @MYANC
— Muhamed-Nur Nordien (@nordienmn) July 4, 2019
Do we have sufficient funds in the medium term budget for additional fire engines?
— Kenny Masoko (@kennymasoko) July 4, 2019
Some more facts:
4. Some fire stations have zero fire engines.
5. Six and even 12 fire engines is far too few for a city the size and complexity of Jhb.
6. Even with the new 28 fire engines we are still well below what is required.
7. This problem has been ignored for 3 years— Matt Collier (@matt_collier77) July 3, 2019
https://twitter.com/johnnyfortune68/status/1146532860066709504
Related articles:
Nine fire stations to be upgraded in the City of Johannesburg
https://www.citizen.co.za/northcliff-melville-times/293264/no-injuries-reported-after-a-house-fire/
