DA demands Tshwane municipality drops legal battle against private firefighters

The DA is urging the Tshwane municipality not to appeal a high court ruling which dismissed its application to have private firefighting services operating in the capital deemed illegal.

The city recently dragged Fidelity Secure and the Sinoville firefighters' association to court, seeking an order declaring their private fire brigades unlawful. 

However, the High Court in Pretoria dismissed the application, saying there is currently no legislation that regulates and or prohibits private firefighting entities.

DA caucus leader in Tshwane, Cilliers Brink said it was wrongheaded for the municipality to even take the matter to court when these private entities are covering its shortcomings. 

"Earlier this year, voluntary firefighters were prevented from fighting a fire in Klerksoord, even as Tshwane’s own fire brigade was clearly in need of assistance, the DA calls on Tshwane not to waste further taxpayers’ money by appealing the judgment and instead seeks to cooperate with private and voluntary fire services.” said Brink.