The Makana fire department can now perform faster and more effectively, thanks to the delivery of a brand new 4×4 fire truck worth over a million rand from the Cacadu District Municipality Mayor on Monday.
The Makana fire department can now perform faster and more effectively, thanks to the delivery of a brand new 4×4 fire truck worth over a million rand from the Cacadu District Municipality Mayor on Monday.
Until now the local department has reportedly been operating with limited vehicles and equipment, and fire services manager William Welkom said he was impressed that the district municipality had responded to their request for a truck. "It will be a huge relief for us when rendering services. We had old vehicles and this new one will assist us a lot with major fires," Welkom said.
Cacadu Executive Mayor Khunjuzwa Kekana said she considers fire services to be crucial in any community and felt compelled to give fire fighters the tools the need.
"We give what we can," she said. "As a municipality we used to be funded by the province for disaster and fire services but now we get nothing, so with the little bit of budget we assist where we can and meet the local municipalities half way."
Kekana urged the local municipality to insure the truck and put it in their asset register. "Don't receive something and don't have someone responsible for it," she said. There must be somebody who will be held accountable for it.
"The truck cost a whopping R1 634 114 and the tools inside it cost R120 059," Kekana said.
Makana Executive Mayor Zamuxolo Peter thanked Kekana on behalf of his municipality and said it was a necessity for our fire department. "We get lambasted for not responding in time, and it's a challenge when we have insufficient resources," he said. "On behalf of Makana we are very proud to have received this truck."
He said many families have lost their loved ones due to fires in Makana and mentioned Grahamstown's recent loss of well-known businessman Jayantylal Naran when his house in New Street burnt down.
"We commit ourselves to look after the truck and we will source funding to also upgrade the fire department offices," Peter said.
