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More than 50% of BCM fire engines are out of service

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Dear MyPE

More than half of Buffalo City Metro fire engines are out of service at the hottest and busiest time of the year.

The latest engine to be taken out of service is the newest addition to the fire-fighting fleet, a Mercedes medium pumper (HPV 068 EC) based in King Williams Town. It is out of service through gross negligence of a Metro official, and will cost almost R400,000 to repair, and this misconduct must be investigated and disciplined.

The dashboard warning light showed that the vehicle needed water and the Metro official placed a hosepipe into the oil reservoir and filled it up.

The water and oil reservoirs are easily distinguishable from each other in the engine – the oil reservoir has a red lid and has an indicator on the lid that shows that oil needs to be placed there. The water reservoir has a green lid.

As a result of this error, the oil and water caused the engine to seize. The vehicle was towed in to Ronnies Motors on 24th November where 32 litres of water was found in the engine.

The Buffalo City Metro is risking lives, property and businesses by not caring for, repairing and maintaining its fire-fighting engines.

In contrast, the DA in government is showing that emergency services are prioritised where we govern, and as an example when the Democratic Alliance took over governance in Johannesburg this year, within one month Herman Mashaba’s government managed to get 29 fire engines, which had been in repair shops for years, back into service to protect the people of Joburg.

The DA knows that prioritising the regular maintenance of municipal resources provides quality services to all residents.

We have submitted two sets of questions to BCM Council regarding the dysfunctional state of the Fire Department, and upon reply we will pursue the matter until all BCM fire engines are back on the road, serving the people of the Metro.

Regards

Sue Bentley
DA PR Councillor in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.