Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Linda Louwrens and Sesotho soundbite by Jafta Mokoena MPL.
The Moqhaka Municipality has been without a suitably qualified Fire Chief since the previous Chief left the service more than 18 months ago.
A recent internal assessment has shown that the Fire and Rescue Service is not operating at the required national standards due to significant capacity constraints within the municipality. The report indicates that the service is currently operating at approximately 50% efficiency in delivering a professional, fully compliant fire service to the residents of Moqhaka.
The municipality further acknowledges that its Fire Safety and Training divisions lack adequate professional staff to meet the full scope of their mandated responsibilities. This shortage impedes the effective and consistent implementation of fire safety legislation across all communities in Moqhaka.
These challenges directly affect the municipality’s ability to provide essential fire prevention education, enforce compliance, and respond optimally to emergencies. Addressing these capacity limitations is a priority, and the municipality is reviewing interventions to strengthen staffing, training, and operational capabilities.
Ever since this was tabled at a council meeting, the administration has not initiated a recruitment process to fill this critical position.
The residents of Moqhaka deserve a better-run administration that can be held accountable by effective political leadership.