Councillors conduct oversight at local fire stations
The JMPD led the tour around the compound showing councillors the condition of the facility.
COJ councillors and Action SA committee members conducted an oversight in Dube and Dobsonville on September 9.
This is after the facilities have been without water for about three years.
Councillor Kabelo Moatshe said they visited JMPD Dube vocational compound and Dobsonville Fire Station to assess the state of operations and if there is anything that needs their urgent attention.
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They were also looking at any challenges that hamper service delivery.
“There is not only a lack of water at the compound but also rubble at the palisade fence,” said Moatshe.
Superintendent SF Malapane of the JMPD led the tour around the compound showing councillors the condition of the facility.
“There is only one tap that has running water and if we are lucky it stops working around 11:00 which makes things difficult for us and the cleaners,’’ said Malapane.
He said that the rubble was from shacks that were evacuated. “There are contractors that are responsible for getting rid of them.”
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After seeing the state of the compound’s bathroom, the caucus leader for ActionSA in Johannesburg, Nobuhle Mthembu, said: “This does not make sense as these are city-owned properties. For a place like this to lack something as simple as water is shocking.
“I am pleased that Johannesburg Water came to inspect the compound and have found that their pipes are okay and the problem lies with the property at large.”
Bossman Maciki, shift commander at the fire station, mentioned that lack of water prohibits them from rendering their services efficiently. He also mentioned hygiene challenges in the bathrooms.
“If there was to be a fire, we would have trouble putting it out as our hoses do not have water and need to be constantly refilled,” said Maciki.
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Mthembu said the way forward is to contact city officials and the chairperson on economic development to hear what and how they will assist with the challenges faced by the two facilities.
She also promised that she would be back to see if there had been any progress.
