November 7, 2005
By Thomas Thale
JOHANNESBURG'S emergency management services (EMS) unit pulled out all the stops to honour its most dedicated lifesavers at a glittering awards ceremony held at Gallagher Estate in Midrand on Friday, 5 November.
The awards were given to the firefighters, paramedics, teams, learners and volunteers who had displayed selflessness, innovation and team spirit over the past year, going beyond the call of duty in their quest to save lives and property.
Dr Ntombi Gule-Kalake, the EMS chief, described the awards as a token of appreciation for the dangerous work done by emergency personnel.
She said the ceremony was a culmination of an exciting year in which the EMS had employed an additional 50 firefighters, undertaken outreach projects to empower communities and set up new special operations teams, including a special medical advanced response team and a hazardous materials team.
"We also established a world-class training centre that redefines safety in Dube. This has increased our capacity to save lives and to offer medical help where we are needed."
Sean Knoetze being congratulated by Councillor Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane and Councillor Nandi Mayathula-Khoza on winning the best employee award
(Photo: Enoch Lehung, City of Johannesburg)
EMS members had selflessly offered a lifeline for many people caught up in natural or manmade disasters, both locally and overseas, Gule-Kalake added.
"They extended their humanitarian hand within the country and internationally, helping in rescue efforts in Turkey, India, Indonesia and Pakistan. They also helped in raising funds for tsunami victims in Somalia. We are now running exchange programmes with Somalia."
Gule-Kalake, who herself recently was the only senior manager in the City to get 100 percent on her performance scorecard, said the awards were given to reward employees who thought out of the box and went beyond the call of duty to render excellent service.
"Through these awards, we recognise those employees, teams, stations and districts that are efficient and well managed."
The winners
Best employee of the year was Sean Knoetze, a training officer who set up the first learnership programme in the EMS. He wins an overseas trip, visiting Phoenix and Los Angeles, in the US.
Best project of the year was Vukuzenzele, a community outreach programme that seeks to prepare communities, especially those living in informal settlements, to respond to fires.
Through this project, the EMS set up bucket brigades that trained community members to extinguish fires. Gule-Kalake said the project had realised more than 30 percent reduction in fires and displacements. The project won R5 000.
Team of the year was public relations special operations response, which had shown innovation and team spirit. The team walked off with R3 000 in prize money.
Fairview Fire Station scooped the best fire station award, winning R3 000.
Also winning R3 000, the best managed district was District 3, which covers Fairview, Joburg Central, Berea and Malvern. The best managed department, again winning a R3 000 prize, was proactive services.
Simphiwe Ngwenya from the Jabulani Fire Station was chosen as the best student from the academy, earning R1 000 in prize money. Volunteer of the year was David Tshemese. For his dedication, he was given R1 000 and has been offered a permanent post with EMS. Masabata Holtzhauzen was best learner, receiving R1 000.
New uniform
The EMS also used the occasion to show off its new corporate wear. Councillor Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane, the member of the mayoral committee responsible for safety and security, said the new uniforms would complete the professional look of EMS staff.
"The uniform will now be worn by staff in all spheres of the organisation, not just staff on the field."
It includes jump suits, golf shirts, formal clothes, casual wear and sportswear for EMS teams playing soccer, netball and volleyball.
Council Speaker Nandi Mayathula-Khoza said the awards would create a conducive environment for staff and raise morale in the organisation.
"This will make staff compete in a healthy manner. The criteria for an organisation to achieve its objectives and make a difference in the quality of life of residents includes quality assurance, controls and systems, effective communication, response times, improved leave management, team work and asset management."
She added that as the 2010 Soccer World Cup approached, the EMS would accelerate its quest to become a world-class service, capable of handling all disasters.
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