GOOD statement by Rosa Louw,
GOOD George Municipality Councillor
30 January 2025
The GOOD Party in George is saddened to have learnt that the fire department responded to 95 fires in December 2024, an increase of 22 incidents in comparison to the 73 fires in December 2023.
In a written response from the municipality, it was revealed that 13 fires were reported at RDP houses and 15 were wooden informal structures. These structures were severely damaged/destroyed, leaving the most vulnerable of our society with nothing.
However, due to lack of funding and municipal policies only 8 families were assisted with corrugated temporary municipal emergency structures and one family was temporarily accommodated in a community hall.
According to the Fire Department, the cause of most of the December 2024 fires was arson. The fact that someone would deliberately risk life and property is shocking and we call on the police to investigate and act against the perpetrators.
As a municipality, we need to do more ahead of the 2025 fire season to educate our residents about the dangers of fires, regardless of the cause.
We need an achievable action plan that can be implemented ahead of next year’s fire season.
As GOOD we call on the municipality to:
- Introduce training programs and materials to be rolled out, especially in informal settlements.
- Indigent Households need to be assisted ahead of fire season with fire safety compliance, electrical/gas inspections
- More emergency funding needs to be made available to assist the most desperate of our society in their moments of despair.
Fires have the potential to destabilise our communities, destroy lives and homes.
We need to do everything within our power to assist with fire prevention and awareness.
Media enquiries:
Rosa Louw, George Municipality Councillor
Cell: 082 393 1669
Email: louw88@gmail.com
Samantha Jackson, GOOD: Media Manager
Cell: 0835509875
Email: samantha@forgood.org.za