On 13 September, Fikile Mbalula is alleged to have made a statement in which he questioned the level of training received by the three brave firefighters who passed on tragically in a fire which engulfed the Provincial Government building last week.
On behalf of the City of Johannesburg, I condemn efforts by Mbalula to impugn the memory of our brave firefighters by questioning their competence and training.
The pain that was experienced at the memorial service held this past Wednesday engulfed all present. The families, fellow firefighters, unions, and political leadership of the City of Johannesburg wept for their loss.
The truth that is perhaps not known by Mbalula is that everyone present at the memorial service placed the blame for the tragedy squarely at the feet of the ANC.
That death-trap that was called an office building saw our brave firefighters sent into certain death because the ANC did not to care to remedy defects which made the building unsafe.
As a result, the firefighters and unions issued a clear directive to the City that nobody from the ANC or Provincial Government would be permitted to speak at the memorial service.
This is perhaps something on which Mbalula should reflect.
It is deeply insulting for those who mourned together at the memorial service to now have somebody, who lacks the bravery to run into a burning building, question the competence and training of these three brave men.
I would suggest to Mbalula that he should stick to matters on which he is qualified to talk, but leave the memory of our brave firefighters alone.
The City of Johannesburg calls upon Mbalula to issue an unconditional apology to the families and colleagues of the three brave firemen.
Cllr Herman Mashaba
Executive Mayor
City of Joburg
Media Enquiries:
Luyanda Mfeka
Director: Mayoral Communications
Office of the Executive Mayor
Cell: 076 171 5978
Email: luyandam@joburg.org.za
