4 October 2004 Press Release Response to DA call for investigation into Sandton Blaze The Emergency Management Services (EMS) Head Dr Audrey Gule has appealed to all interested parties to allow for internal processes of the Johannesburg City Council to take their course. Her comment follows a media statement linking staff shortages to alleged slow response of the EMS to the Sandton blaze. "The specific incident and allegations highlighted are being investigated," said Dr Gule. "But according to our records, the call was received at 00h12 on the morning of 03/10/04 and the first engines arrived at 00h23 which is within our response time standards," she added Nine fire engines and 50 firefighters tackled the blaze. The full fire report and subsequent fire investigation is expected not later than the 7th October 2004. The City's Communications Director Gabu Tugwana said those who were questioning the EMS performance appear to have conveniently forgotten that EMS has been without a permanent chief since February 2003. Dr Gule was appointed EMS chief in May this year. In the last four months, there has been a vigorous process that has focused on auditing the complete value chain of emergency response, which includes, response times, skills level, staff numbers and efficiencies. Meanwhile, Dr Gule has announced that EMS was scheduled to present the EMS turnaround strategy at City's Executive Management meeting tomorrow 5th October and to the section 80 (portfolio) Committee on the 6th. "Following the executive and political inputs into this plan, details of which will be made available to the media on the 7th October 2004" she added. The Council's Member of the Mayoral Committee's (MMC) Public Safety, Sizakele Nkosi, has come out in support of Dr Gule. She said, it was unfortunate that Cllr Darren Bergman, a member of the Portfolio Committee would choose to raise issues linked to the EMS turnaround strategy on the eve of the presentation. Ends Malcolm Midgley Media Liaison Officer EMS Telephone:+27 (0) 11 758 5051 Cell:+27 (0) 82 780 0213 Email:malcolmm@joburg.org.za Nthatisi Modingoane Media Liaison Officer CITY OF JOHANNESBURG Tel: (011) 407 7354 Fax: 403 3494 Cell: 082 467 9228 E-mail: nthatisem@joburg.org.za