Lives of workers now at greater risk

Mqanduli to cover Mqanduli, Coffee Bay and surrounding areas. This is still in the process and we are looking for funding,” Mampoza said.

When the Dispatch visited the department yesterday, the bays where the fire engines were supposed to be parked on standby was empty.

There was only one bakkie and passenger vehicles.

Some firefighters who spoke to the Dispatch yesterday on condition of anonymity, said there were times they received call-outs to fires but could not put them out as fire engines were not working. “This posed a risk to us, as community members think that the problem is with us firefighters,” said one firefighter.

The firefighters believe the area needed at least four fire engines.

Mampoza said there was no budget to buy new fire engines.

OR Tambo district municipality spokesman Ayongezwa Lungisa said they were happy to help when there was a need.

“But next week we are to give three fire engines to some of the five local municipalities under us. We hope that this will help,” said Lungisa, but he declined to say which municipalities would receive those trucks.

The KSD fire department firefighters.

Firefighters also raised the issue of their protective clothing which they said was of poor quality and the lack of oxygen masks which they said impacted negatively on firefighters as they were exposed to smoke. — has 36