Worries Arise Regarding the Preparedness of DEMS

The Department of Transport Planning recently assessed the City of Ekurhuleni’s emergency response capacity and preparedness in the aftermath of the devastating fire in the City of Johannesburg CBD. According to DA spokesperson for community safety and Ward 16 Clr Jaco Terblanche, the department’s report revealed some alarming statistics.

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Terblanche stated that out of the city’s 135 fire engines, only 31 are operational, which means that a staggering 77% of the city’s fire engine fleet currently needs to be in service. Moreover, the city needs to meet its legal requirements for fire stations. According to South African National Standard (SANS 10090) guidelines for community protection against the fire code of practice, Ekurhuleni legally requires 65 fire stations to serve its population of over four million residents. However, the city currently only operates 29 operational fire stations.

The situation has been exacerbated by the abandonment of fire station construction projects, such as the Katlehong and Klopperpark stations, by contractors who cited a lack of payment from the municipality. Despite the opening of the Albertina Sisulu Corridor Fire Station in Kempton Park, it needs more human resources to fulfil its mandate effectively.

Terblanche pointed out that the DA had raised concerns about over 75 funded unfilled vacancies for firefighters within the fire department in 2021. Unfortunately, almost two years later, many of these vacancies remain unfilled, resulting in fire stations operating with skeleton staff and firefighters on overtime.

In response, William Ntladi, the media liaison officer for the CoE Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS), explained that the department acquires its vehicles from the city’s fleet management department. He mentioned that vehicles’ new maintenance and repair contracts are awaiting approval, which will significantly impact their operational capabilities. Some emergency vehicles have been out of service for extended periods due to insurance claims resulting from road accident damages. Depending on the specific fault, vehicle downtime can be prolonged, as specialised equipment requires verification and inspection before ordering the necessary materials and spare parts.

Regarding the shortage of fire engines, Ntladi clarified that the city strives to have at least one fire engine per station and currently operates 30 fully functional fire stations. Emergency services in Ekurhuleni are divided into three regions, further subdivided into districts, with an average of three fire stations per district. The number of required fire engines for emergency responses depends on the size of the incident, which can be categorised as district, regional, or requiring a metro turnout.

Ntladi emphasised that a memorandum of agreement guides inter-municipal responses among Gauteng municipalities. He also mentioned that projects aimed at addressing resource shortages involve engaging with stakeholders to follow the necessary procedures and processes. He noted that filling vacancies depends on various factors within the CoE and is not managed solely by the DEMS department.

Source: Concerns expressed over the state of readiness by DEMS

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Photo: Supplied by Kempton Express