October 29, 2003
By Tshepiso Mogotsi
PRECISION marching by a drill squad from the Emergency Management Services formed part of the ceremony at the official openings of two new fire stations in Lawley and Orange Farm south of Johannesburg this week.
Two ceremonies were held on Tuesday 28 October, with council representatives moving from one fire station to the other. Public safety committee deputy chairperson, Nomaphelo Maqanda, officially opened both stations.
Intricate manoeuvres by the EMS drill team entertained officials and residents alike, who had gathered in the scorching sun to welcome the new stations. The South African Police Services' band, in full regalia, played rousing marching tunes.
EMS director of operations, David Tembe, said the opening of the two fire stations followed an extensive assessment of the safety needs of the city.
Previously Lawley and Orange Farm were serviced by the fire station in Eldorado Park, some eight kilometres away
It was decided that six new fire stations were needed in Johannesburg: so far four have now been built, with fire stations in Diepkloof and Dobsonville, Soweto, being opened in March this year. Another two stations will be established in Diepsloot and Ruimsig, to the north west of Johannesburg.
"The assessment clearly indicated that six more stations were required so that the EMS could render emergency services without any hesitation to all the people of Joburg," Tembe said.
Tembe added that the EMS had the capacity to deal with most emergencies: structural fires; grass fires; anthrax scares; hazardous material incidents; motor vehicle incidents; collapsing buildings; water rescues and high angle rescue.
The EMS covered an area of approximately 1 650 kmē and, according to EMS spokesperson Malcolm Midgley, was too large an area for the existing 29 fire stations. The new stations would bring the total up to 35.
"This shows that the City of Johannesburg will make sure it delivers emergency services to all citizens, irrespective of where they are," said Midgley.
Recently the EMS received a major boost with the donation of 10 ambulances from the Gauteng Provincial Government. The province intends to hand over a total of 40 new ambulances to Johannesburg by January next year.
The EMS had a proven record of assisting other countries and other province. In May this year the newly established Urban Search and Rescue unit helped in rescue operations in Algeria following a devastating earthquake in that country. In August another EMS team battled a runaway fire in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga.
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