GOOD Statement by Roscoe Palm,
GOOD City of Cape Town Councillor
20 February 2024
The GOOD Party calls on the Safety and Security Directorate together with the Fire and Rescue service to explain why additional wildlands firefighters will only be ready near the end of fire season.
According to the quarterly report of Fire and Rescue Services that covers the reporting period from 1 October to 31 December 2024, the service was short 96 firefighters during the peak of fire season. 87 wildlands firefighters were appointed on the 17th of January 2025. These firefighters are still being trained in the academy and are only slated to end their training in mid-March 2025, at the very tail of fire season. 9 positions remained vacant at the time of reporting.
So far, the City’s fire fighting teams have had to deal with 8,740 service requests in the 1 October to 31 December 2024 period, up from 5,134 in the previous quarter. To not have had a full complement of staff is an aberration. Fire season is predictable in the Western Cape and should not have taken officials by surprise.
In the past, wildlands firefighters have joined the Fire and Rescue Services at the start of fire season. The delay in this recruitment, training and deployment has had a detrimental ripple effect on service delivery and morale. We have seen firefighters from every station put life and limb on the line when the bell drops. They deserve the consideration of being adequately backed up by their bosses.
This fire season has been particularly fraught. Resources are stretched, and contrary to public claims made by the MMC for Safety and Security JP Smith, we just simply don’t have enough vehicles on run at any given time.
Between Smith, and the Fire Chief Clinton Manuel, whose name is appended to the quarterly report, someone must explain why this delay occurred, and what will be done in future so that this is never repeated.
As GOOD we thank the men and women who risk their lives to protect the residents, property and the environment.
Media enquiries: media@forgood.org.za