Calls Grow for Better Fire Services After Latest House Fire

The Cofimvaba Ratepayers Association has accused Chris Hani District Municipality of abandoning its firefighting mandate, saying residents keep losing homes and lives while a R16 million budget for new fire trucks remains unaccounted for.

The latest outcry follows another devastating blaze last Saturday in Vuyisile Mini Local Municipality, formerly Intsikayethu LM, where a house burnt to ashes as firefighters battled broken equipment and dry taps.

Association chairman David Plata says the municipality is failing its duty.

“In their 2023/24 Budget they budgeted 16 million rands to buy firefighting trucks. Up-to-date there is no feedback,” Plata stated.

“The bakkie that is being used has no capacity to extinguish a burning house or a shop. So many people have passed on in Intsikayethu Local Municipality because of these fires. These are houses not shacks.”

Firefighters do respond quickly, but the vehicle lets them down.

“The tank on the bakkie is very small. The trauma that is being experienced by firefighters cannot be measured to look at a house being swallowed by fire with people inside in their presence,” the association said. “This is a District function although these are stationed in Local Municipality. Fire is a threat to shops as well.”

Residents described scenes of helplessness as neighbours tried to fight the flames with buckets while the municipal truck stood idle.

“Another house burnt to ashes last Saturday full of furniture and clothes – nothing was saved. Neighbours tried but the taps were dry. The firefighting trucks came but the pressure engine couldn’t start. The firefighters tried their level best to fix it but failed. Community members brought their buckets getting water from the truck. The blaze was too much for them to extinguish,” a resident said.

“I was so touched watching people crying because nothing could be saved. How I wish Chris Hani District Municipality can be more serious so as to save lives and properties.”

The association says it raised the same water-access concerns when prepaid meters were introduced. “As Cofimvaba Ratepayers Association we cannot afford to lose more lives. One life is too many. We expect the Municipality to deliver for its function,” Plata said.

It is now asking: “Can a District Municipality build a well-equipped fire station?” and demanding urgent feedback on the R16m truck procurement.

Chris Hani District Municipality spokeswoman Nangamso Ngceke said the district is mandated for specialised fire services like mountain fires, veld fires and chemical incidents.

“All local municipalities under the district have the competence to undertake the firefighting function while the district municipality is responsible for coordination, support and strengthening of the firefighting service across the district hence the existence of fire services satellite offices in all local municipalities,” Ngceke said. The district recently held IDP Roadshows in all six local municipalities on service delivery plans and budgets.

Vuyisile Mini Local Municipality spokesman Zujo Tshangana said structural firefighting falls to local municipalities under the Municipal Structures Act.

“Vuyisile Mini Local Municipality has been rendering this service since its inception. We are a rural municipality operating on severe resource constraints versus the demand resource. However, the municipality continues to provide the service with our limited resources,” Tshangana said.

He added the municipality has “plans with actions in place for the next financial year to ensure that we address the matter of limited resources and be able to effectively respond to fire incidents”.