24 Mar 2015

The main reason why the Dumela Fire station could not be used was that there were not enough people to man the station after it was completed.

Assistant Minister of Local Government, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso, told Parliament that through Francistown City Council, her ministry did not have the funds to create enough posts for the required personnel.

During the financial year 2013/14, council conducted a staff rationalization exercise and created 14 posts for the fire station, she said. Ms Tshireletso said the posts had been filled and currently the incumbents were undergoing a three-week fireman training that would be completed on April 28.

In addition, Ms Tshireletso said funds for equipment and furniture were provided for during the 2011/12 financial year and procurement was done the same year. She explained that they anticipated that the new fire station would start operations from May 1, immediately after completion of training.

She said the project started on January 14, 2008 and was completed on September 9, 2009 with a contract sum of P10. 7million. The assistant minister was responding to a question from Francistown West MP, Mr Ignatius Moswaane who had asked the minister if she was aware that the City of Francistown Council built a new fire station at Dumela Industrial for more than five years and left it unused.

He also wanted to know when was the project started and when it was completed including the tender sum involved. He further asked the minister the reasons for dumping a completed project and when council would start using the fire station. ENDS