Mayor reopens Randburg Fire Station
BLAIRGOWRIE – Randburg Fire Station opens again to serve residents within a 6km radius of Randburg CBD.
The Randburg Fire Station is back in action. Executive Mayor of Johannesburg Mpho Parks Tau officially unveiled the newly-refurbished station in Blairgowrie on 31 October. The station was recently sold to MultiChoice, which revamped it from March until now. The company still owns the station, but is leasing it to the City of Johannesburg. Government officials, Ward councillors, police and community leaders watched as firefighters marched and performed drills during the ceremony.
“There are no people equipped better to deal with a fire than the people of a fire station,” Tau said. He referred to the recent fire in Kya Sands (see previous article), where he said that an estimated 2 000 people became homeless and destitute. “This is where fire stations such as this are needed to save lives.” He thanked MultiChoice for their commitment shown to the station and surrounding community, and said that the station would renew all stakeholders’ commitment to the community.
Member of Mayoral Committee for Public Safety in Johannesburg Sello Lemao said that Randburg was “sometime ago on a downward spiral”, but the tide is turning. Ward 102 councillor David Potter jokingly said that as the local Ward councillor, and having no bias, the Randburg Fire Station would be the best in the city. Tau then cut a ribbon and unveiled a plaque to signify the station’s opening to the public.
“The station looks very nice,” said acting Station Commander Alan Bright. “It is a big improvement.” When asked which parts had improved, he replied that “the whole station was revamped”. He added that the station will now be responsible for emergencies within a 6km radius of Randburg CBD. The station includes a Basic Emergency Safety and Fire Emergencies (Besafe) Centre that will educate young children on what to do in the event of an emergency.
Multichoice CEO Imtiaz Patel said that the brave men and women who serve the community needed the best facilities available. There were attempts to improve the facilities at the station in 1977, 1981 and 1985, and the firefighters responsible for those attempts were praised, namely: Gustuff Montsho, Ma Kgaswe and Erson Kwane. Until now, Randburg firefighters were operating at Roosevelt Park and Hunter’s Hill fire stations.
Details: Randburg Fire Station 011 787 1351/2; Emergency Management Services 10177, 112.
