Tsakane – Fire and other disaster incidences in Tsakane in Ekurhuleni will now be attended to within a short space of time, thanks to a newly built fire station.
According to the Ekurhuleni Municipality, the new fire station was built at a cost of R14 million.
Officially opening the new fire station on behalf of the Mayor, Ekurhuleni MMC for Community Safety Mthuthuzeli Soboza, said the municipality was determined to improve access to places where disaster had struck.
“As the municipality, we are working on the needs identified by the people themselves,” he said.
The new fire station will be manned by two fire engines and two ambulances.
The station will also serve places like Kwathema, Duduza, Dunnottar and other surrounding places.
Prior to the completion of the new fire station, Tsakane residents and nearby communities used to get fire services from Kempton Park.
According to Ekurhuleni Emergency Services spokesperson, Rogers Mamaila, the community of Tsakane had for years called for a fully-fledged fire station.
Before the official opening of the fire station, Siboza officially opened the local Disaster Management Satellite Office, situated a stone’s throw away from the new fire station.
New emergency vehicles were handed over to help improve the response time to emergency situations.
In total, Ekurhuleni has more than 20 fire engines.
During his State of the City Address two weeks ago, Ekurhuleni Mayor Mondli Gungubele mentioned the new fire station.
He also said the municipality would be purchasing new emergency vehicles.
Joseph Tshawe, a constructor who worked on the fire station, said it took them more than a year to build the station.
“During construction, we trained many young people in bricklaying and most of the people we employed were local people,” he said.
Tsakane resident Zodwa Zulu told SAnews that she appreciated what the municipality had done for them.
“We really needed a fire station in this area as there are lots of fires.” – SAnews.gov.za
