Taxi protest stops fire service operations as engines damaged

KSD fire fighters forced to turn down ‘6 calls a day’

RESIDENTS of King Sabata Dalindyebo now have to fight their own fires after the local municipality’s equipment was incapacitated in a violent protest by taxi operators.

The firefighting equipment was damaged by taxi operators protesting against plans by authorities to move them away from the fire station premises in Durham Street.

It is alleged the taxis regularly encroach on the fire department area and block vehicle access.

KSD has only two fire engines to service an area of over 3 000km² including Mthatha, Mqanduli, Ngqeleni, Elliotdale and Coffee Bay.

As a result of damage inflicted during the protest, fire fighters said they had to turn down an average of six calls a day from residents in distress as their fire engines stood idle awaiting repairs.

The Dispatch called the fire department’s control room yesterday.

An employee, who answered the phone but declined to give his name, said it was “shameful” that they could not respond.

The fire engines reportedly suffered damage to their windscreens and bodies during the protest and were not deemed roadworthy. But KSD spokesman Sonwabo Mampoza said fire services were not suspended. “There is a standing arrangement between KSD municipality and O R Tambo district municipality for help with fires,” he said.

O R Tambo district municipality spokesman Ayongeza Lungisa said the municipality would help all its local municipalities in the district if they were needed.

The district municipality’s fire services are also based in Mthatha.

In the violent protest on September 17, the municipality barricaded the forecourt of the fire station with concrete blocks.

Three on-duty fire fighters were injured, one seriously, when a group of youths pelted them with stones. The windscreens and mirrors of four private vehicles belonging to firefighters were broken.

Scores of people were injured. At least 50 taxis were impounded after police fired rubber bullets to disperse taxi drivers and touts blocking streets with burning tyres.

At the time, taxi bosses distanced themselves from the violence but accused municipal authorities of failing to consult with them about their removal. They said KSD had given them the disputed land.

Eastern Cape Taxi Council president Zanemvula Gaya accused KSD of delaying approval of plans they had submitted to develop their own taxi rank on open space that was being used for mechanical repairs behind the fire station.

After the unrest, KSD mayor Nonkoliso Ngqongwa summoned taxi bosses to a meeting.

But yesterday, part of the concrete barrier set up two weeks ago had been removed and taxis were operating from the same space.

Gaya said they were concerned about lack of fire fighting services and the municipality should put temporary measures in place.

“They [KSD] can hire new fire engines. The situation is not good because in the end we are all related to one another,” said Gaya.

He said KSD had the money to build state-of-the-art taxi ranks with decent facilities like shelters and toilets while the current ranks were filthy and posed health risks.

Mthatha Airport manager Anderson Maduneni said they had two new fire trucks and were not affected by the situation. They only relied on the municipality’s engines for “back up” support.

He said Mthatha Airport, 17km outside the Mthatha CBD, could offer support to the municipality if needed.