The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT-SA) marked a decade of service on June 26 with a celebration dinner at the RoCheMo-Ri events venue in Raslouw.
The non-profit organisation relies on public donations and provides services free of charge. It is rooted in the Centurion and the Vaal communities and is dedicated to helping others.
Founded in 2014 by Ruan Heyns, it provides free emergency medical services in the two areas.
It offers crucial emergency services, including emergency medical assistance, firefighting and rescue operations, working alongside existing emergency services to enhance its efforts.
The dinner was attended by the Centurion and Vaal crews, representatives from the communities they cover and from the local security industry.
“This is a big milestone for CERT, reaching 10 years this year. I am very pleased to see what it has become,” Heyns said.
“Today is 10 years exactly since CERT was registered and we wouldn’t be here without the people that have put in the work to make it happen.”
He added that everyone attending has had an impact on what CERT is today, and on his own journey, to keep the organisation going and get it to where it is today.
“People don’t realise the sacrifice that goes into this, they go out on the road, jumping in at a moment’s notice at early hours in the morning to assist people in need.”
Cecil Parsons from the Vaal crew said working together was the key to the success of the organisation.
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His crew joined after Community Care EMS merged with CERT to provide its services to those in need.
“When we approached CERT a little over a year ago, the sentiment was that we can only be stronger together,” said Parsons.
“There’s a lot of similar organisations and everyone is striving to offer a free service to the community.
“We would never been able to achieve this without all working together.”
In its vision, the organisation states: “We firmly believe that everyone deserves help in emergencies, regardless of their financial situation, background, or any other personal characteristic.
“We extend our assistance without discrimination, ensuring that every person and living being in need can count on us for support during critical times.”
Over the years, it has grown from a single vehicle servicing Centurion to a far-reaching organisation.
It offers training and education, trauma support through dedicated chaplains and trained trauma councillors, animal rescue, community safety, special operational support as well as emergency medical services.
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