GOOD Statement by Roscoe Palm ,
GOOD City of Cape Town Councillor
30 April 2025
In light of the devastating fires that recently engulfed large parts of Cape Town’s Noordhoek/Silvermine/Tokai areas, GOOD would like to express our concern not only for the affected residents and the damage to property and ecosystems, but also for the apparent gaps in oversight and preparedness.
The recent article published in Daily Maverick featured comments from Subcouncil 20 Chairperson, Carolynne Franklin (DA), who rightly described the fires as “Armageddon” and likened the experience to “being in a war zone.” Her description reflects the gravity of the situation experienced by many in our communities.
However, while the Chairperson’s media comments convey alarm, her actions within the subcouncil have not matched the urgency required. In multiple meetings, attempts to raise critical oversight questions, such as the late deployment of seasonal fire staff and the operational status of our fire services, and other issues, have been blocked or dismissed.
In November last year, I asked MMC for Safety and Security, JP Smith why he has incapacitated Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Services. I warned that the Fire and Rescue Services were slowly losing capacity and expertise. In response, Alderman Smith chose to belittle and deflect, opting for online insults and PR distractions over honest engagement, even attacking subject matter experts with more fire knowledge than he could ever claim. This campaign included Fire Chief Clinton Manuel producing a condescending and misleading video targeting me directly.
In anticipation of needing the facts in hand should a disaster strike, I submitted a formal written question to the Mayor about the readiness of our fire services.
What was deployed to fight the Tokai fires is not what Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said was available. Operational requirements are such that we cannot deploy every single firefighter, and every single vehicle to the scenes. But the recent display of what MMC Smith described in a social media post as “all hands on deck” is incredibly underwhelming.
Resources according to Mayor’s Response
Major Pumpers (Fire Engines): 55
Water Tankers: 22
Strike teams: New*
“All hands on deck” Tokai deployment according to JP Smith
Major Pumpers (Fire Engines): 12
Water Tankers: 5
Strike teams: 5*
*A strike team is comprised of wildland seasonals and a qualified firefighter in a bravo vehicle. To deploy these you need to take a water tender off run, further thinning the resources of the FRS.
Either the MMC is lying or being lied to, or the Fire Chief is, or the Mayor is. The only certainty is that there is so much political smoke, a dangerous fire of mismanagement is smouldering beneath the surface, just like the Knysna fire, which also ignited under Fire Chief Manuel’s previous watch.
As GOOD we remain concerned about the Capacity of the City’s first line of defence to fight fires.
• Backup fleets that supposedly exist are non-operational or poorly maintained. One replacement vehicle recently had no functioning star bar and could not be used effectively.
• Firefighting vehicles on run are under-maintained or unfit for duty,
• Of the four ladder trucks bought at massive expense, only one was on run, until my public questioning of our FRS resources. Since then, one other one had been put on run, on occasion. The other two, procured at the cost of around R20 million each, are relegated to training props or parade items. This is not only wasteful, but symbolic of a broader problem: firefighting as performance art, rather than public service.
• The working conditions for our firefighters are unacceptable. The sick leave policy leaves much to be desired, with demands for a mandatory shifting of eight shifts before the firefighters are eligible for to work overtime again. From threats to their leave and benefits, to punitive fines for operational decisions made under duress, firefighters are being failed by the very system that relies on their bravery. Some are penalised for vehicles bogging down in waterlogged areas, a known risk in fire zones.
• Security at some fire stations is so poor that individuals with criminal intent have had access to critical infrastructure.
GOOD calls for a complete review of the City’s fire strategy:
• The incoming model of “specialised” fire stations must be interrogated to ensure that they are fully functional from day one.
• The arrival of seasonal wildlands firefighters after the height of fire season is a shocking dereliction of duty.
• There should be a system of rotation of firefighters between stations Firefighter rotations must be fair, capacity-building, and free of political favouritism.
• Those who raise legitimate concerns must be heard, not sidelined.
The GOOD party will continue to ask the difficult questions. We will not allow our firefighters to be used as mascots in photo ops while their service is left to wither. Capetonians deserve a fire service that is resourced, respected, and ready, not one undermined by political spin and systemic neglect.
Media Enquiries:media@forgood.org.za