Joburg firefighters air burning issues

DA Shadow MMC for Public Safety Michael Y Sun listens to fireman DA Shadow MMC for Public Safety Michael Y Sun listens to former fireman Daniel Motsoeneng explaining some of the strife faced by working fire fighters at a press conference hosted by the DA. The press conferenece high lighted the lack of resources in the the City's fire department. 260815. explaining some of the strife faced by working fire fighters at a press conference hosted by the DA. The press conferenece high lighted the lack of resources in the the City's fire department. 260815. Picture: Chris Collingridge 138

DA Shadow MMC for Public Safety Michael Y Sun listens to fireman DA Shadow MMC for Public Safety Michael Y Sun listens to former fireman Daniel Motsoeneng explaining some of the strife faced by working fire fighters at a press conference hosted by the DA. The press conferenece high lighted the lack of resources in the the City's fire department. 260815. explaining some of the strife faced by working fire fighters at a press conference hosted by the DA. The press conferenece high lighted the lack of resources in the the City's fire department. 260815. Picture: Chris Collingridge 138

Published Aug 27, 2015

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Johannesburg - Shocking allegations of substandard working conditions and claims of corruption and maladministration have been brought to light by Joburg firefighters.

The disgruntled group, from fire stations across the city, aired their grievances on Wednesday, after numerous attempts to get management to resolve them apparently failed.

Instead, they insisted that the City of Joburg has been misleading the public about the bad state of fire stations, which was endangering people’s lives.

The firefighters said the situation had become so dire that the uniforms they wore had become a symbol of shame rather than pride.

Several of the firefighters shared their daily struggles during a briefing hosted by DA member of the mayoral committee for public safety Michael Sun.

Their main bone of contention, they said, was the lack of resources.

According to regulations, there needs to be a minimum of two fire engines at every station and at least seven firefighters on duty during every shift.

But the firemen say that was far from the case as some stations were not equipped with even one fire engine. Florida Park was cited as an example. There, employees were forced to cater to a vast area, including Roodepoort and Kya Sand.

They said it slowed their response time drastically and had led to people losing their lives, homes and possessions.

A firefighter in Orange Farm said that because of the lack of resources, they had once taken an hour to get to the scene of a fire although it should have taken them only 10 minutes.

This was also the case in Diepsloot, where 24 shacks were reduced to ashes recently as firefighters failed to arrive in time to extinguish the flames.

The firefighters said the extra strain on them has had a devastating impact – they struggle with exhaustion and depression in a field where their skills had literally become a matter of life and death.

They also feared for their own lives.

Many of them said they weren’t given clothing that could protect them in hazardous situations and were forced to share masks and other equipment, meaning they risked passing on germs and diseases to one another.

The firefighters said their dignity had been trampled on as often there weren’t enough toilets to accommodate them at the various stations.

They urged the public to rally behind them in a quest to improve working conditions and provide more resources, which would result in better service and ultimately save lives.

Attempts to get comment from Joburg Emergency Management Services spokesman Robert Mulaudzi were unsuccessful.

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