The Democratic Alliance (DA) will formally request a full report on the operational capacity of Dawid Kruiper’s fire unit following its failure to respond to a devastating fire in Louisvale, Upington, last week.
The fire destroyed a shack and left a family with nothing but the clothes on their backs, once again exposing serious concerns about fire response capacity in Dawid Kruiper.
The municipality’s fire unit does not appear to be adequately equipped or resourced to respond effectively. Only one fire truck is currently operational, while another reportedly remains out of service. For a municipality as large and geographically spread as Dawid Kruiper, this is simply not enough.
Serious questions must also be asked about staffing levels, response times, and whether emergency calls are being properly attended to. Residents deserve to know whether the service is fit for purpose.
The fire service function shifted from the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality to Dawid Kruiper, but this cannot remain an unfunded mandate, nor can it be used as an excuse for failure. Whatever the administrative arrangement, residents are entitled to a functioning emergency response service capable of protecting lives and property.
The DA will submit questions to COGHSTA MEC, Bentley Vass, to probe the efficiency of the fire service arrangement between the district and local municipality and determine whether it is delivering the emergency response residents rely on.
The DA stepped in to assist the affected Louisvale family with basic supplies after the fire, but charity cannot replace a home, nor can it substitute for a functioning municipality.
With winter approaching, the risk of fires will increase as households rely on open flames and unsafe heating to keep warm. Fire response cannot work only some of the time. It must be ready, staffed, and fully functional when disaster strikes.