Bravery awards bestowed upon EMS firefighters
The EMS Bravery Awards ceremony intends to recognise the often hazardous nature of the work firefighters do on a daily basis and also honour their heroic deeds.
THE City of Joburg held the Emergency Management Services (EMS) Bravery Awards at the Florida Fire Station in Roodepoort where fallen – and living – EMS firefighters were honoured on January 28.
Last September saw the loss of three brave firefighters in a blaze that engulfed the Gauteng Health department building in the Johannesburg CBD. On that fateful day, part of the crews that responded to the building fire, from Fairview and Central fire stations, were trapped in the building, which resulted in the deployment of the EMS Rescue Team, who successfully got them out.
The EMS Bravery Awards ceremony intends to recognise the often hazardous nature of the work firefighters do on a daily basis and also honour their heroic deeds. The executive mayor, Herman Mashaba, Public Safety MMC Clr Michael Sun and EMS acting fire chief Arthur Mqwa handed out Medals of Valour to the courageous men and women of EMS who, on September 5, braved the raging flames to rescue their own and recover the bodies of the three fallen heroes – Khathutshelo Muedi, Mduduzi Ndlovu, and Simphiwe Moropana. The bereaved families were also made part of the ceremony.
“While we had conveyed our condolences previously, we would like to take this opportunity to again send our heartfelt condolences to the families and the broader EMS family.
“At the time of the incident, allegations of equipment shortage and unavailability of required resources to conduct active firefighting emerged in the media space, this prompted the City to launch a series of parallel investigations to have clarity of what happened during the Bank of Lisbon fire incident.
“EMS services over 30 000 fire, search and rescue, and medical calls a month. For us to efficiently and diligently deal with each and every call, all safety protocols (relating to equipment and personnel) should be observed, and that includes making sure our staff are safe,” said Mashaba.
The City of Joburg instituted both internal and external investigations by EMS Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHASA), EMS Forensic Fire Investigation Unit and external investigations by Fire Protection Association (FPA) and the Department of Labour on the matter. Both internal and external investigations are still underway and the department will await the conclusions of the report with recommendations.
The City of Joburg reassures the residents of the City that EMS management is committed to providing effective emergency services on a day to day basis without any disruptions.
ALSO READ:
For free daily local news in the south, visit our sister newspapers Alberton Record, Comaro Chronicle, Southern Courier and Get it Joburg South Magazine.
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. You can also email our offices on cvdwalt@caxton.co.za, juliem@caxton.co.za or luckyt@caxton.co.za
Get regular news updates sent directly to your inbox: Newsletter-Signup
