Response to recent fires acceptable
Following the article that was published in Graaff-Reinet Advertiser on 6 May regarding the recent fires that claimed the life of an elderly woman in the Riemvasmaak informal settlement and caused substantial damage to the Coldstream restaurant respectively, the acting media liaison officer of the Dr Beyers Naude Local Municipality (DBNLM), Edwardine Abader, responded to the newspaper’s request for comment from DBNLM.
According to Abader, the information provided by the anonymous employee, who claimed that the absence of proper means of communication resulted in incidents not being properly and timeously attended to, is not factual. The DBNLM has emergency numbers for all services being rendered to the public and these numbers have been shared on their media platforms as well as by the Graaff-Reinet Advertiser.
The emergency number for the GraaffReinet fire service is 060 425 0113.
Abader said that response times are being reported regularly and monitored by management.
The reported response times indicate that the Graaff-Reinet fire service has responded to all recent fires within the acceptable response time after being notified on the abovementioned emergency number.
In addition to the emergency numbers, the DBNLM has a client call center where complaints can be reported during working hours. To improve client services, the DBNLM is also investigating the possibility of establishing a 24/7 system with only one number for all emergency services.
Abader stated that the DBNLM is awaiting inputs in this regard and that the community will be informed before implementation of the system. She also stated that the Community Services Directorate, in consultation with stakeholders, has planned campaigns in all towns within the DBNLM with the primary objective of raising awareness around waste management and fire services to improve service delivery and eliminate misinformation.
The Director of Community Services is also in the process of establishing fire service facilities closer to the areas on the peripheries to improve response times.
Abader also confirmed that the Disaster Management Plan is in the process of being finalized and will be published for public inspection and comments. This document will indicate the acceptable response times for the various towns within the DBNLM.
According to the anonymous informant, the response of the acting Media Liaison Officer of the DBNLM is not entirely true since the abovementioned emergency number is not known to the public and, therefore, the 112 toll-free number is the number that is most frequently used. This allegation has been brought to the attention of the DBNLM.