The flames of the dispute between the City of Johannesburg and its firefighters has yet to be doused.
DA Shadow Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Public Safety, Micheal Sun has expressed his concern over the answer to a question posed to MMC for Public Safety Sello Lemao. Last Thursday Sun raised the issue in council and asked if the city owed any overtime payment to the firefighters who went on a go-slow daily between 4pm and 7am as of 17 July. The strike took place due to the fact that they are not getting overtime payment. Lemao said the city does not owe any firefighters overtime payment.
Sun said he was very concerned over this information.
“It is in clear contradiction of the firefighters’ allegations and the very bone of contention of the dispute.
“If the city denies that it owes any overtime payment to the firefighters, I am afraid that the dispute will now only deepen between the city and the firefighters, and residents could suffer,” said Sun.
He believes the city’s safety will be gravely compromised, with residents’ lives and properties at risk, if the dispute between the city and the firefighters is not resolved immediately. With this in mind he asked Lemao if the city has a fully functional “24/7 and 365” fire rescue service in every ward.
The MMC said all except for six of the city’s fire stations were fully functional but he did not indicate which fire stations were not functioning. Lemao said only 104 firefighters stayed away and accused them of being on an illegal strike.
Sun said he has been informed by firefighters that there are no fire trucks at fire stations at Ivory Park, Kibler Park, Lawley, Roodepoort and Orange Farm.
Want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us an SMS/ WhatsApp message with your name and cellphone number to 079 414 6709.
Familiarise yourself with our WhatsApp service disclaimer.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.
Also read: Update: EMS denies allegations
Make sure they get to you on time
Council stingy with disaster management
For free daily local news on the West Rand, also visit our sister newspaper websites Randfontein Herald, Krugersdorp News and Get It Joburg West Magazine
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to let your voice be heard!
