Cape Town - Firefighters who fought tirelessly to extinguish fires across the Cape over the last month would be honoured at the annual Cape Town Carnival on Saturday.
Six hundred firefighters and volunteers would join the parade, the city’s executive mayor Patricia de Lille said in a joint statement with the Cape Town Carnival on Thursday.
“This forms part of the City of Cape Town’s initiatives to honour the many brave firefighters who worked tirelessly over the past weeks to combat the fires that have devastated a large part of our city,” said De Lille.
“They went above and beyond the call of duty to protect lives and property, and we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for their efforts,” she said.
The city and Cape Town Carnival called on all residents and visitors to join them as they saluted the local heroes.
“We, along with the Cape community, are overwhelmed with gratitude for these heroes who have fought so bravely to protect local lives, nature and property from the devastating fires,” said Cape Town Carnival marketing, media and sponsorship director, Shelley Finch.
“We are calling on everyone to join us in giving them the reception they so richly deserve. This is the time to celebrate our city’s spirit of unity.”
Spectators were encouraged to join in festivities from 4pm, when the fan walk would turn into a pedestrian walkway with food vendors and festive hospitality areas.
Western Cape Minister of Economic Opportunities Alan Winde said on Thursday that the carnival together with the Cape Epic, which starts this weekend, would add a substantial boost to the provincial economy.
“In the previous financial year, (these) events generated R1.6 billion for our economy,” Winde said in a statement released.
“The Absa Cape Epic and the Cape Town Carnival are major assets to our events economy,” he said.
A total of 1200 local and international riders will take part in the Cape Epic.
Cyclists will travel 739km over eight days, from March 15 to 22.
The race begins at the University of Cape Town and finishes at the Meerendal Wine Estate in Durbanville, having traversed some of the most beautiful terrain in the Western Cape.
ANA