02 Aug 2016

The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, through Central District Council, established a fire brigade unit in Mahalapye, which would provide the first response to a fire . 

The Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso, said this in Parliament on Monday. 

She said the first response was intended to manage the fire pending arrival of the fire brigade based in Palapye.

“It is true that the equipment provided to the fire brigade unit is not sufficient to tackle major fire threats, but with the team on the ground, the management of people and evacuation of adjacent properties will be coordinated by personnel in the unit, in order to contain the fire,” she said.

Ms Tshireletso said the purpose of the fire brigade unit was to provide a first response and hence its primary function was to get to the scene of the fire as quickly as possible. 

She said thus the vehicle that had been provided to the unit was a rapid intervention vehicle and her ministry would in future consider the purchase of a fire engine when resources permit.

“Currently, there are no plans to construct a fire brigade station at Mahalapye due to budget constraints,” she said.

MP for Mahalapye West, Mr Joseph Molefe, had asked the minister if he was aware that the fire brigade unit at Mahalapye was not equipped enough to deal with the fire threats in the area.

He also asked whether the size of the fire brigade vehicle stationed at Mahalapye was big enough to contain fire threats of government, private building and homes in Mahalapye and when a fire brigade station would be constructed in Mahalapye. ENDS