The hands-on councillor who got 29 fire engines back on the road in under a month by ‘handling the vehicles as if they were my own’ is how the newly elected MMC for Public Safety, Michael Sun describes himself.
His portfolio oversees the Johannesburg Metro Police Department and Emergency Management Services (EMS).
“I said I wanted my fire engines back. I took these vehicles as my own. If I had my own car in a workshop for eight months and nothing happened I would jump down the mechanic’s throat.”
Sun explained how he managed to get the engines, which actually totalled 31, in little over a month back on the City of Johannesburg’s roads. “I did not plan on releasing the information, it was leaked, but the positive response was appreciated.
“I have to report back to the community on what I have done. And I am flattered by the positive comment. It gives me confidence that I am doing the right thing.”
Sun said after being elected, the first thing he requested, was to see the workshop where the engines were being fixed. “Then springs started to tighten and I could hear noises in the background, but when the MMC says he wants to go see, he goes to see,” Sun said.
At the workshop in Hamburg, Sun found fire rescue vehicles that had been brought there as early as November 2015.
“Some of the vehicles had tall grass growing underneath, indicating it clearly had not moved for a very long time.”
Since his visit, the MMC received reports twice a week on the repairs, until all 31 engines were repaired. “It was not rocket science. I will be lying if I said it was difficult.”
However, some of the engines are simply irreparable or would cost too much to fix.
These vehicle’s futures lie in the proposed revamp of the central fire station in the inner city, which was declared a heritage site. “We will turn the building into the fire department’s museum and park all of these old fire engines that are out of commission there. It will help to educate the public and be great for kids’ birthday parties,” Sun quipped.
Yao-Heng Michael Sun is an attorney with a distinguished career in law, public safety and justice matters. Sun joined the Democratic Alliance (DA), whose councillors took over most of the City’s leadership in the 2016 municipal election, 12 years ago. He has served as a councillor since 2006 and was the DA’s Shadow MMC for Public Safety from 2013.
Sun also recently caught a Metro police officer taking a bribe and has ensured his prosecution. He said that he would stand behind and in front of Metro police officers, as long as they are doing the right thing. “But if you are doing the wrong thing, I will be the first one to bring you down,” he said at the time.
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