MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The Eden District Municipal Firefighters were recently recognised for the lifesaving role they play in the district, with council and management showing the team dignity and respect.

Even before the June 2017 fires struck the Garden Route, a need for an upgrade of basic capital items that would create a "home away from home" for more than 40 firefighters after a long day of work, was identified by Eden District Municipality's (EDM) Council.

This commitment by council signifies its understanding of the importance of not only the hard work which is done by firefighters but also the dignity and comfort that is deserved by the brave men and women who put their lives on the line for communities 24/7, 356 days a year.

While firefighters can attest to the fact that their job requires excessive hours, they also make mention of how important it is to relax after working shifts of up to 16 hours when a life-threatening fire is ignited at one location or multiple locations in the district.

This year during the adjustment budget, an amount of R5 500 000 was approved by council for expanding the firefighting function of EDM. During the planning of the 2017/18 budget in February 2017, capital items totalling R150 000 were identified and purchased a year later.

On 23 March, the official handover of the capital items took place when the EDM Mayoral Committee and executive managers addressed firefighters at their fire base in George.

EDM Executive Mayor, Cllr Memory Booysen said that the engagement with Firefighters wasn't the first or the last and that he will continue to see to it that the needs of firefighters are met.

"We have raised the issue of your welfare, your circumstances, the future of Firefighters at EDM. It hasn't been an easy road for any of us, but this is only the beginning of great things to come," said Booysen.

At a Skills Summit hosted by EDM, it was decided that the district should become a Skills Mecca, which means that the district will also invest in a training academy where firefighters will be trained and where other possible municipal-specific skills will be taught.

Booysen also shared that he sees firefighters of EDM as the "flagship" of the organisation that forms part of one of the hardest working and effective Departments of EDM, namely Community Services.

New mayoral vehicle
Booysen explained that it has been extremely difficult for him to get to where firefighters are working, predominantly in the mountainous areas of the district because of the type of mayoral vehicle that Council owns. He then went on to say that, this would "soon change" because he supports "purchasing an SUV", especially to support firefighters.

"Even when I go to the Western Cape Government Parliamentary meetings or engagements and firefighting is spoken of, I always stand out because they know very well how good of a job we are doing," said Booysen.

Firefighters, Mayoral Committee members and executive managers.

The Executive Manager of Community Services, Clive Africa said he is proud of the progress which has been made to date.

"When I look at where we were about ten years ago and where we are today, I can only be thankful to Council for their commitment to firefighters. Firefighters had to sleep under firetrucks in the past or on the back of trucks at fire scenes; conditions have thankfully changed drastically to date.

More firefighters
"We are also looking into expanding our team of firefighters because in 2006 a study was conducted about how many firefighters were needed for the Eden District to roll out its function.

"The study showed that we would need 60 firefighters to effectively safeguard the entire district, but because of budget constraints we have only been able to appoint 40 firefighters. They have done an excellent job under the circumstances by delivering a quality, dedicated service to the district for years," said Africa.

Africa confirmed that EDM plans to purchase more fire trucks on an annual basis for the next few years, which will cost an estimated R5.5 million over the next three years. Africa also boasted about the fact that the EDM have been winning the Toughest Firefighter Award for the past five years, which is more evidence that firefighters have proved their worth year-by-year, and therefore deserve excellent working conditions.

Chief Fire Officer, Freddy Thaver also thanked Mayor Booysen and Council for "taking an interest in the working conditions of firefighters".

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