The City of Johannesburg Member of the Mayoral Committee for Public Safety, Councillor David Tembe has today witnessed the handing over of a fire rescue vehicle to the community of Lenasia and the surroundings.

MMC Tembe was accompanied by Executive Mayor Councillor Mpho Phalatse, EMS and JMPD Management.Today’s event was a culmination of a public private partnership that was initiated by the previous government in the City of Johannesburg. The Trade Route Mall Management handed over a fully equipped vehicle together with the services of trained EMS staff.

The one vehicle they offered is a good start and a challenge to others to emulate and follow suit. There is potential for this and other partnerships to be established in various communities with more vehicles and training of more fire fighters in the future. Executive Mayor, Dr. Phalatse said “This public-private partnership through the donation of this fire rescue vehicle embodies the City’s relationship with the business community with whom we are united in fighting an unprecedented threat to our environment and properties.”

Vehicles such as the one provided by Trade Route Mall today can be the first response to fire outbreaks before the main fire engine truck arrives. These fire fighting vehicles are agile and can easily maneuver through the congested informal settlements to attend to fire outbreaks. They can also extinguish non-structural fires.

All the speakers at the occasion appreciated that a partnership that had started only as the training of community members in emergency services had developed into a full service of fire and rescue. MMC Tembe said: “There is a serious shortage of fire engines in the City of Joburg. Our response time to emergency cases has been inadequate. But with these kinds of partnerships, comprising of fire and rescue vehicles as well as trained emergency personnel, we will be able to respond on time” Both the Executive Mayor and MMC Tembe appreciated and acknowledged the presence and role of former MEC for Transport, Mr. Ismail Vadi, in community development projects and his support to the City of Johannesburg.

For more information contact:

Karabo Seane
Deputy Director
Communication and Stakeholder Management
Office of MMC for Public Safety
067 258 2927

25/02/2022