MIDVAAL – The Midvaal Local Municipality Fire Services responded to a call for assistance from the Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve after an uncontrollable veldfire broke out. Although the Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve is owned and operated by the Gauteng Department of Environmental Affairs, Midvaal Municipality quickly responded by deploying vehicles and personnel to assist.
The Midvaal Fire Services Team worked for more than 48 hours alongside other fire services to control the runaway fire.
The teams were assisted by the community, Fire Protection Association and Afriforum. The teams battled the blaze despite the challenging terrain of the nature reserve, which made some areas difficult to access. More than 11 000 hectares of veld were decimated in the fire. Thanks to their quick action, the Midvaal Fire Services helped to prevent the loss of life, equipment, property and buildings, reducing the potential losses for the Provincial Department of the Environment.
Midvaal Executive Mayor Alderman Peter Teixeira emphasised the municipality’s commitment to collaborating with partners and neighbouring municipalities to protect the community and their property.
Teixeira said: “We can never sit back and watch people lose their lives and properties simply because of jurisdiction. The spirit of intergovernmental relations is when each sphere of government does what it can to ensure the wellbeing of our people and the improvement of service delivery.”
Midvaal Municipality prides itself on being a caring and compassionate institution, placing the well-being of people above all else.
