Did you know you’ll get an invoice for emergency services rendered?

“We got a letter saying we owe the fire department R6,107.44 for the help in putting out the fire – we don’t have that kind of cash,” Tina Botha said, after her family of eight found themselves without a roof over their heads when a fire quickly ravaged their house on 13 June.

“We lost everything; the few things that didn’t get burned, we had to throw away because of the smoke and water damage that it picked up,” she said.

“We are a struggling family. We get by with whatever the Lord blesses us with, but we have a heap of bills to pay and we fell behind on our rent and even school fees.”

The top part of the Claremont duplex, owned by Botha’s mother in-law Wilhelmina Henning, was gutted by a fire which started in one of the bedrooms.

“I don’t know how we are going to pay for this, all our things were destroyed and my son just survives on odd jobs here and there,” said Henning.

Like many, this struggling family was under the assumption that the taxes that residents pay are used by the city to pay for ambulances and fire extinguishing.

It turns out this is not the case, according to Robert Mulaudzi of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS).

“Communities are expected to pay for the services rendered by the fire department – just like any other services offered by the City of Johannesburg, there is a perception that the services are free which is not correct,” said Mulaudzi.

Mulaudzi made it clear that residents are charged according to the service rendered, such as litres of water used and other resources used on the day.

“If they are not able to pay – just like any municipal account – they can visit their nearest municipal service centre to present their case. They will be assisted accordingly,” he added.

“It is very important for the communities to understand that for the fire department to render effective service, they have to pay for the services so that the City can offer efficient professional service,” Mulaudzi concluded.

Councillor Michael Sun is the DA Shadow MMC for Public safety and confirmed that, in terms of section 97(1) of the Emergency Services By-law passed last year, residents are required to pay for services granted to them by EMS.

“While we do no condone refusing to pay… as land or property owning residents or occupants, rates and taxes are paid to the City. From the rates collected from the residents, the city allocates certain amounts to its various departments and municipal -owned entities, Johannesburg Emergency Services (JEMS) being one of the departments that receives such budget allocation.

In other words, “residents already pay for the expenses of JEMS, therefore the residents should not be accounted for such emergency services, be it fire trucks or ambulances,” Sun added.

“The City should also have regard for those residents that cannot afford such emergency services. Emergency services should not be a luxury, but a free service for those in need,” he added.

Sun, however, also added that in his opinion, if fires are caused intentionally or through negligence, the person at fault should be held both criminally and financially liable.

Botha and her family continue to live a worried life with the hope that the City will repair their duplex and cancel their payment order.

“I really don’t care who fixes my place as long as it gets done. As a mother and a grown woman it pains me to know that we must sleep seven people in a tiny room.

“The place is cold. My baby is only four months,” said Botha.