Siphelele Nketo

AS a way to improve responses during emergencies, Johannes Phumani Phungula Local Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal recently welcomed a new fire engine truck, an event which was marked as a significant milestone.

The area has faced a number of fires that required quick responses. The arrival of the fire engine has been described as a service that will improve response times and enhance the ability to manage fire-related emergencies within the municipality.

Municipal mayor Bathobile Ngubo said the fire engine represents a critical investment in strengthening municipal capacity to protect lives, property and the environment.

“As a municipality, we have previously encountered incidents where we had to rely on neighbouring municipalities for support, particularly during large-scale fires. The acquisition of this resource marks a significant turning point as we enhance our ability to respond swiftly, effectively and independently to emergencies,” she said.

She highlighted that the acquisition reflects the municipality’s commitment to improving service delivery and ensuring the safety of all residents.

She said the municipality will equip disaster management teams with the necessary resources to serve communities with excellence, saying that this investment is a step towards a more resilient and self-reliant municipality.