By Karabo Rammutla
In October last year, the City of Tshwane Executive Mayor Randall Williams officially opened the R62 million Mamelodi Fire Station.
Despite many fires, however, since then there has not been a firefighter in sight.
Then, on Tuesday morning, Williams once again officially launched the same fire station, promising that he would not be opening it a third time.
At the time of the first opening, he promised residents it would start operating the following month in November.
For months after the official opening there was no activity at the station and no sign of firefighters or a fire engine. In April, Scrolla.Africa reported that residents were being forced to put out fires with buckets of water.
Thugs even burgled the station and stole steel window frames and other fittings.
On Tuesday morning, the mayor told residents that he was sure that the station would go on to serve its intended purpose.
The fire station is expected to serve residents of Mamelodi and Nellmapius, two areas that are surrounded by informal settlements which are prone to shack fires and flooding.
“The station has been operating since September this year, there are already 34 staff working here. Today is just an official launch, the station is working,” he said.
Although residents said they were happy to finally see the station working, they needed jobs.
Resident Rachel Nyalungu said they had hoped to get jobs even if it was cleaning or gardening.
“We wanted to speak to the mayor but he left swiftly,” Nyalungu said.
However, another resident Ella Makotanyane was happy to see the station working.
“Firefighters won’t take hours to reach desperate communities. The city should continue rolling services to the community, I applaud them,” she said.
Pictured above: Mayor Randall Williams opening the Mamelodi Fire Station for the second time
Pictures source: Karabo Rammutla
