Firefighters
WC authorities brace for rise in fires as winter looms
Environmental Affairs MEC Anton Bredell on Wednesday warned the risk from open flames and paraffin heating systems will rise as winter approaches.
National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said that she'd been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and assistance for workers.
Questions have been raised about why firefighters were deployed to another country when their services are needed here at home.
The City of Cape Town has indicated that a disciplinary process is still currently under way relating to the events of 2019 when the firefighters took part in an illegal strike.
The fire has been burning high in the mountains for a few days with most fire lines being inaccessible.
Two firefighters were pepper-sprayed while attending to a scene in Seawinds on Friday night.
The fire started around 6am on Monday morning but the cause of it is not yet known.
Joburg Emergency Services said that the Labour Court has affirmed it followed the correct procedures when suspending over 200 firefighters over an unprotected strike.
The DA's Derrick America said that they would be deployed in four districts across the Cape metro.
Approximately 12 of Cape Town's 30 fire stations were properly manned overnight.
The South African Municipal Workers Union, which represents around 60% of the city's roughly 900 firefighters, said its members were only working from 8 am to 4.30 pm.
Some firefighters refused to work a 24-hour shift and only worked for eight hours after they claimed that they were not being paid for overtime work.
Last week, the firefighters marched to the Civic Centre and Parliament to demand a change to the overtime pay structure.
The South African Municipal Workers Union said if the city did not meet their demands, members will only work from 8 am until 4 pm from 1 October.
EWN visited the dilapidated old Johannesburg Central Fire Station and found out that a number of firefighters are living in the building despite the fact that it was declared unsafe last year. The City of Joburg is aware of this as the firefighters are paying it rent.
The City of Cape Town has responded to threats by the South African Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu).
Two of the firefighters injured in the incident were discharged from the Milpark Hospital on Tuesday.
Some firefighters say they work long hours, often in dangerous situations, but their pay does not reflect this.
Joburg Emergency Service Nana Radebe says they will continue putting their lives on line to save those in danger.