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2010-01-20: Edging towards making Joburg an incident free zone  
 
THERE year 2010 started on a very sad a note for the Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS), with two drowning incidents reported in Soweto this past weekend. 

Though this incident is deemed to be incidental, we have, over a period of time, issued warnings – to the effect that people will continue to drown and bodies will still be recovered if the stated, easy-to-follow precautionary measures are not taken into consideration when one is near or in water bodies such dams, rivers and streams. 

It is our very intention to come out with strategic intervention and plans that include awareness programmes, road-shows and campaigns at every available public meeting area. To this date, the challenge remains an all inclusive public participation and accountability. This year (2010) we will have increased visits to schools, parks, churches and malls.    

The numbers of fatalities recorded – from 2006 to 2009 (October to December) 

​Year
​No of fatalities
​2006​
​25
​2007​
​36
​2008
​49​
​2009
​34​​


EMS has, since the beginning of second semester of 2009, came out with several safety campaigns, solely aimed at making the City of Johannesburg an injury free and incident and/or accident free metropolis. Several stakeholders, among others the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) have been roped in for a collective safety drive. A joint initiative, under the auspices of Public Safety Department, saw the two departments launching their Public Safety month initiatives in early September. Pedestrian and motor vehicle safety, domestic (swimming pool and general home safety) and the safekeeping of hazardous materials (safe storage, transportation and use of dangerous commercially traded substances) and the illegal occupation of condemned buildings in the inner city were some of the issues highlighted during mall campaigns, road shows and in our interaction with the media.

In mid-December 2009, over 500 kids aged between 2 and 16 years saw an EMS Volunteer Drama Group performing at several well-known parks across the Soweto. This was a joint EMS/ Johannesburg City Parks (JCP) Festive Season Campaign, with a plethora of messages aimed preventing drowning incidents, destruction and damage to our parks, safety at home and in the street, the abuse of emergency numbers and ambulances, as well as reporting incidents of flagrant abuse of municipality resources.

To this day, no child has been reported drowned. 

Just before the much-awaited New Year celebrations, a joint EMS/JMPD and SAPS raided several businesses across the city, which was selling fireworks. There were confiscations and fines were subsequently issued to six (6) businesses for operating without valid permits. Life-threatening injuries (especially to children), that are associated with these illegal fireworks, have been well-documented in the media.

To show our expertise in handling hazardous materials or the spillage thereof, we had an incident where a truck overturned in the south of Johannesburg, two weeks ago (30th December 2009). A team of EMS Technicians, who were dispatched to the scene, managed to contain the substance and secure the area, to prevent further damage and injury. A lot has gone into training in the past two years, in preparation for such eventualities.  

"The afore-mentioned interventions are a clear and perfect dress-rehearsal for the forthcoming 2010 Soccer World Cup. As the host City, we have to make sure that we are ready. Starting from the equipment – we have to make sure that everything is compliant and meets set international standards. Our most treasured resource – our employees – has undergone the appropriate training; they have now the right attitude and are competent. We will make sure that those visiting our City will feel safe and appreciate our hospitality. They will have a lasting memory and may come back again after the World Cup" said EMS Executive Head, Dr Audrey Gule.      



Issued by:
Percy Morokane
Tel: +27 (0)11 758 9540
Mobile: +27 (0) 83 288 3751
e-mail: percymo@joburg.org.za 

For more information, please contact Percy Morokane.