The Democratic Alliance (DA) conducted an oversight visit at the fire stations in Vereeniging and Vanderbijlpark.
The DA was alarmed by the concerns raised by the employees as they vented their frustrations.
They brought to light that the collapsing building is not in compliance with the Road Traffic Act as the walls are crumbling with deep cracks and debris is tumbling down from sagging roofs that buckle and cave inward. Additionally, there is a lack of adherence to the Labour Relations Act as employees are struggling under poor working conditions.
Moreover, the fleet is not maintained as the fire engine extinguisher leaks water and the engine vibrates whenever the speed exceeds 60km/h. This creates a situation that poses a significant risk to the employees.
The calling center is also under resourced which compromises timeous attendance to fire complaints.
These potential delays can endanger residents.
These dangers put everyone, residents and employees, at risk.
The DA demands that the Emfuleni Local Municipality:
- Ensures that employees have a conducive working environment.
- Supplies the necessary resources for a working call centre.
- Certifies that the fleet is compliant with the Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996
- Verifies that the buildings’ structural integrity is intact.
- Provides a working restroom and furnished waiting room for staff and residents that are user friendly.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) conducted an oversight visit at the fire stations in Vereeniging and Vanderbijlpark.