Safety Concerns Arise Among Ormonde Residents Following Outbreak of Fire

A recent fire in Ormonde concerns residents about their safety, as the blaze erupted in the servitude area between the Shakespeare Avenue and Xavier Street bridges along the M1 North on August 22.

Thulani Bhengu, a nearby resident, expressed apprehension about the incident, mainly due to underground Sasol gas pipelines where the fire broke out.

Fortunately, emergency services arrived promptly to extinguish the fire, averting a potential disaster. Bhengu stressed the potential danger posed by the incident, highlighting the risks to homes if the fire had reached the gas pipelines. He also mentioned that he had attempted to contact Sasol’s security but received no response.

This event has highlighted ongoing concerns in the community. In January, Bhengu had raised an issue related to dumping in the same servitude area. He believed that the responsibility for addressing this issue rested with multiple entities, including Sasol (gas pipeline), the Johannesburg Road Agency (adjacent to the M1 North), Johannesburg City Power (pylons), and the City of Johannesburg (environment and city parks).

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Despite his efforts to bring the matter to their attention, Bhengu expressed frustration with the lack of action from these agencies. Correspondence with the involved entities revealed a range of responses:

• Johannesburg Road Agency – “The dumping is on vacant or open land, which is outside the ambit of the JRA.”
• Joburg City Parks – “This would be for the JRA and Pikitup.”
• Pikitup – “We are still waiting for the depot to provide input.”
• Ward 54 Clr Stuart Marais, the JMPD, and City Power did not respond to inquiries.

Nomia Machebe, the media and communications manager at Sasol, acknowledged their commitment to safety in the community. She mentioned that Sasol regularly conducts safety campaigns to benefit fenceline communities and businesses. These efforts aim to preserve the integrity of infrastructure and ensure the safety of lives.

As the community navigates safety concerns and seeks the involvement of responsible agencies, incidents like the recent fire in the Ormonde area underscore the importance of addressing potential hazards in a collaborative and timely manner.

Source: Residents worry about their safety after fire breaks out

Also read:

Investigation Underway into Fire That Took Lives of 5 Children in Laudium

Picture:  Pixabay / Haytham Reslan

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