It is with great pleasure to announce that the Eden District Municipality firefighters once again proved to be the toughest competitors of the “South African Toughest Firefighter Alive” competition, when they brought back the trophies to the Eden district the past weekend.
The competition took place at the Roeland Street Fire Station in Cape Town from 10 to 12 August 2018.
The accolades include Senior Firefighter Emile Conrad as, once again, the “SA Toughest Firefighter Alive,” being the overall winner of the “Men’s Individual” category. Mr Conrad has won the title ever since he attempted his first TFA competition in 2011. Furthermore, three firefighters of the Eden DM team, namely Messrs Deon Stoffels, Edwin Lottering, Branville Abrahams and Martino-Mariano Jacobs, participated in the individual challenges and all these participants performed superbly.
In the “Relay Team” challenge the Eden DM team competed against various municipalities and were able to walk away in 2nd position after Ethekwini Municipality snatched the first place.
Mr Conrad extended a word a gratitude to all who supported the team until the end of the competition and added these special words: “I thank our Lord Jesus Christ for His amazing grace, love and overwhelming faithfulness and favour”. Mr Conrad furthermore thanked the organisers for making the event possible and added that the impact that this event has on the Fire Services, is immeasurable.
Mr Conrad extended a word a gratitude to all who supported the team until the end of the competition and added these special words: “I thank our Lord Jesus Christ for His amazing grace, love and overwhelming faithfulness and favour”. Mr Conrad furthermore thanked the organisers for making the event possible and added that the impact that this event has on the Fire Services, is immeasurable.
Executive Manager: Community Services, Mr Clive Africa, who accompanied the team during the three day’s events, described the competition as “very tough” and said: “Our Eden DM firefighters fought like gladiators!”
Ms Khutula Maki, the Eden DM Team Leader and Senior Firefighter, commended the team for their performance and emphasised: “Our Team was confident and enthusiastic from the beginning until the end of the competition and did not show any signs of fear or panic”. Ms Maki concluded: “It was an honour to be part of a winning team”.
Following the events of the past weekend, on Tuesday, 14 August 2018, the Eden DM Executive Mayor, Cllr Memory Booysen, paid a special visit to the team at the Eden DM Fire Station in George to congratulate them personally and praised them for their perseverance throughout the years of their involvement in the competition. “On behalf of Council, management and staff of Eden DM, we wish you well and look forward to many more great achievements from you as a well-renowned and respected Eden DM Firefighting Team,” Mayor Booysen concluded.
The Firefighting team of Eden District Municipality (Eden DM) is currently participating in the “South Africa’s Toughest Firefighter Alive (TFA-SA)” competition held at the Roeland Street Fire Station in Cape Town from 10 to 12 August 2018.
The team is registered to participate in all “Individual” categories as well as the “Relay Team Category”. Team members Messrs Emile Conrad, Deon Stoffels, Edwin Lottering, Branville Abrahams and Martino-Mariano Jacobs, as well as team leader Ms Khutula Maki, are representing the Eden district at the event.
The Eden DM Firefighting team is well known for their outstanding performances in the competition since 2011. Especially Senior Firefighter Emile Conrad, who has won gold in the open division at the first participating competition. In this competition the Eden team walked away with four medals. Over the last seven years, the team excelled and brought back more accolades, as well as more commitment and endurance. Ever since, Emile Conrad continued to make the Eden district proud by maintaining his title as “Toughest Firefighter Alive” and the team members continued to excel in the Individual and Relay challenges over these years.
The event officially kicked-off with the Meet-and-Greet Session and Team Orientation today and will follow with the challenges on Saturday, 11 August 2018 from 9h00 until 18h00.
Good luck to Eden DM Firefighting team. Continue to make the Eden district proud!
Eden Distriksmunisipaliteit (Eden DM) se Rampbestuur en Brandweer afdelings het die Van Der Hoven Laerskool besoek. Die skool bestaan uit 4 onderwysers, ‘n sekretaresse en 75 leerders tot en met Graad 5.
Mnr Gerhard Otto van Eden DM het die verskillende afdelings aan die personeel en leerders voorgestel. Tydens die aktiwiteite het me Gail Bekeer noodhulpwenke aan die kinders verduidelik en me Tippie Bouwer het noodnommers aan die leerders verskaf. Brandweerpersoneel het ‘n skuim demonstrasie gedoen en die kinders hul ‘bunker’ pakke laat aantrek. Ter afsluiting, is kerrie en rys aan die leerders bedien, waarna ‘goodie bags’ en sakke vol klere aan almal oorhandig is.
Die skoolhoof, me Anita Oosthuizen, het die Eden span hartlik bedank vir die gebaar.
Eden District Municipality intends to extend the lease of the contract for the provision of a fire station. The initial contract with Terblanche Transport (Pty) Ltd was valid for the period of 01 January 2015 until 31 December 2016.
This contract was extended for a further period up until 31 December 2017. A further extension was requested and also approved up until June 2018. A new request was made to Council for a further extension. On the 29th of May 2018 Council approved a further extension to June 2019.
In terms of Section 116 of the Municipal Finance Management Act, Act 56 of 2003, a contract of agreement procured through the Supply Chain Management policy, may be amended by the parties, but only after the local community has been given reasonable notice of the intention to amend the contract or agreement.
The local community is henceforth invited to provide comments, if any, in writing to Mr Monde Stratu, Municipal Manager of Eden District Municipality to 54 York Street, George, 6530 or to pa.mm@edendm.gov.za before 31 July 2018.
For any further information, contact the Chief Fire Officer, Mr Freddy Thaver at Firechief@edendm.gov.za.
This notice is available on the notice boards of Eden District Municipality and the website.
Eden District Municipality intends to extend the lease of the contract for the provision of a fire station. The initial contract with Terblanche Transport (Pty) Ltd was valid for the period of 01 January 2015 until 31 December 2016.
This contract was extended for a further period up until 31 December 2017. A further extension was requested and also approved up until June 2018. A new request was made to Council for a further extension. On the 29th of May 2018 Council approved a further extension to June 2019.
In terms of Section 116 of the Municipal Finance Management Act, Act 56 of 2003, a contract of agreement procured through the Supply Chain Management policy, may be amended by the parties, but only after the local community has been given reasonable notice of the intention to amend the contract or agreement.
The local community is henceforth invited to provide comments, if any, in writing to Mr Monde Stratu, Municipal Manager of Eden District Municipality to 54 York Street, George, 6530 or topa.mm@edendm.gov.za before 31 July 2018.
For any further information, contact the Chief Fire Officer, Mr Freddy Thaver at Firechief@edendm.gov.za.
This notice is available on the notice boards of Eden District Municipality and the website.
International Firefighters Day was internationally celebrated on 4 May 2018 and celebrations continued in George on 5 May. Countless brave firefighting men and women have been committing their lives and will continue to commit their lives to protect humans, infrastructure, pets and wildlife etc.
After Team Eden DM Won the challenge, from left to right, are: Mr Clive Africa (Eden DM Executive Manager, Community Services), Mr Freddy Thaver (Eden DM Chief Firefighter), Cllr Memory Booysen (Eden DM Executive Mayor), Mr Emile Conrad (Eden DM Senior Firefighter), Mr David van Niekerk (Senior Firefighter) and Mr Deon Stoffels (Eden DM Senior Firefighter).
Eden District Municipality(Eden DM) formed part of the International Firefighter Day celebrations in George, which was arranged by George Municipality and sponsored by Oakhurst Insurance.
On 5 May 2018, Eden DM Firefighters participated in a Potjiekos competition and a Firefighter Team Challenge at Garden Route Mall. Two teams from Eden DM excelled during the Team Challenge where 11 teams competed.
Our Eden DM Firefighters won 1st place, while the other Eden DM team achieved the 5th position. WE WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE all our brave Firefighters for their excellence and perseverance.
Eden DM is notorious for being the best at firefighting in South Africa because the municipality’s firefighters have won the Toughest Firefighter Alive Competition and Relay Team divisions for a few years in a row.
Even before the June 2017 fires struck the Garden Route, a need for an upgrade of basic capital items that would create a “home away from home” for more than 40 Firefighters after a long day of work, was identified by Council. This commitment by Council signifies an understanding of the importance of not only the hard work performed by Firefighters, but also the dignity and comfort that is deserved by the brave men and women who put their lives on the line for communities 24/7, 365 days a year. While Firefighters can attest to the fact that their jobs require excessive hours of work, they also make mention of how important it is to relax after working shifts of up to 16 hours when a life-threatening fire is ignited at one or multiple locations in the district.
Firefighters, Mayoral Committee Members and Executive Managers shortly after the official handover of capital items took place at the Eden DM Fire Station in George.
This year during the adjustment budget, an amount of R5 500 000.00 was approved by Council for expanding the firefighting function of Eden DM. During the planning of the 2017/18 budget in February 2017, capital items to the amount of R150 000.00 were identified and purchased a year later.
On 23 March 2018, the official handover of the capital items took place when the Eden DM Mayoral Committee and Executive Managers addressed Firefighters at their firebase in George.
Eden DM Executive Mayor, Cllr Memory Booysen reminded the media and audience that the engagement with Firefighters wasn’t the first or the last and that he will continue to see to it that the needs of Firefighters are met. “We have raised the issue of your welfare, your circumstances, the future of Firefighters at Eden DM – it hasn’t been an easy road for any of us, but this is only the beginning of great things to come,” said Booysen. At a Skills Summit hosted by Eden DM, it was decided that the District should become a Skills Mecca, which means that the District will also invest in a training academy where firefighters will be trained and where other possible municipal-specific skills will be taught.
Eden DM Executive Mayor, Cllr Memory Booysen is pleased with what was purchased to date and said that there are more good things to come.
Booysen also shared that he sees Firefighters of Eden DM as the ‘flagship’ of the organisation that forms part of one of the hardest working and effective Departments of Eden DM, namely Community Services. He explained that it has been extremely difficult for him to get to where Firefighters are working, predominantly in the mountainous areas of the District because of the type of mayoral vehicle that Council owns. He then went on to say that, this would “soon change” because he supports “purchasing an SUV”, especially to support Firefighters. “Even when I go to the Western Cape Government Parliamentary meetings or engagements and firefighting is spoken of, I always stand out because they know very well how good of a job we are doing,” said Booysen.
Eden DM Executive Manager of Community Services, Mr Clive Africa, also shared a background of where Eden DM was ten years ago and where it finds itself today and how much things have changed for the better.
During an interview by the Communication Unit, with the Executive Manager of Community Services, Mr Clive Africa was asked to explain how he feels about where the District is today, compared to previous years. He answered by saying that he is proud of the progress which has been made to date. “When I look at where we were about ten years ago and where we are today, I can only be thankful to Council for their commitment to Firefighters. Firefighters had to sleep under firetrucks in the past or on the back of trucks at fire scenes; conditions have thankfully changed drastically to date. We are also looking into expanding our team of firefighters because in 2006 a study was conducted about how many firefighters were needed for the Eden District to roll out its function. The study showed that we would need 60 Firefighters to effectively safeguard the entire district, but because of budget constraints we have only been able to appoint 40 Firefighters – they have done an excellent job under the circumstances by delivering a quality, dedicated service to the district for years,” said Africa.
Mr Africa also confirmed that Eden DM plans to purchase more fire trucks on an annual basis for the next few years, which will cost an estimated R5.5 million over the next three years. Africa also boasted about the fact that we have been winning the Toughest Firefighter Award for the past five years, which is more evidence that Firefighters have proved their worth year-by-year, and therefore deserve excellent working conditions.
Chief Fire Officer, Mr Freddy Thaver also thanked Mayor Booysen and Council for “taking an interest in the working conditions of Firefighters”.
The following items were bought for two firebases, the George Firebase: Fridge/Freezer, Lounge set, Microwave, table with chairs, two televisions, two open-tv decoders and a DVD player, six mattresses and mattress covers. Hessequa Firebase: Fridge/Freezer, Lounge set, Microwave, table with chairs, one television, one open-TV decoder and a DVD player, six mattresses and mattress covers. Televisions and DVD players will also be used for watching firefighting training and educational videos.
Editor’s note: It is public knowledge that due to climate change, the environment has changed drastically, which now requires Firefighters to work in conditions which is more physically and emotionally draining. This was seen during the June 2017 fires when six people lost their lives and many more all their belongings. Approximately ten years ago firefighting services were rendered from a tent; today the Firefighters have a fixed structure where all their efforts are coordinated from.
The George Municipality is proud of its role in establishing Eden’s first dedicated emergency firefighting airstrip in Denneoord and is confident its operations will be safe for residents in its flight circuit.
The municipality will officially open the Denneoord Aerial Fire Base tomorrow (6 December 2017) together with the Southern Cape Fire Protection Association and in partnership with Working on Fire and Eden District Municipality. The opening will coincide with the launch of the Southern Cape summer fire season.
George Municipality Fire Chief Neels Barnard said having a dedicated airstrip for firefighting aeroplanes was a major step forward for firefighting efforts in George and Eden as quick response to fires was essential. “Having a dedicated emergency airstrip means firefighting planes can respond much faster than they would be able to if they were stationed at an airport where they would have to wait in line for a runway along with other aircraft. This is especially applicable during the summer fire season which coincides with the very busy holiday season when hundreds of flights are scheduled at commercial airports.
“George is privileged to have this facility on our doorstep as our proximity to the airbase will ensure very quick response. During test runs last week, response to the site of a veld fire in Wilderness took five minutes, and allowed for quick reconnaissance and appropriate response,” said Mr Barnard.
The aerial base is operated by Working on Fire, a programme funded by the Department of Environmental Affairs, where five aeroplanes and a chopper will be stationed for the fire season from December 2017 to April 2018. Municipalities in the Eden District Municipality, in association with the Southern Cape Fire Protection Association, will work with Working on Fire on a call-out basis as services are required. The airbase consists of a 1000mx30m runway, 20m-diameter helipad, firebase office (existing municipal building upgraded), hangars, taxiways and water refilling point.
Mr Barnard said residents of neighbourhoods in the flight circuit area of the Denneoord airstrip could be rest-assured all safety precautions were being taken and flyovers, landings and take-offs were all within the legal parameters set out in the South African Civil Aviation Act. “Flights are being monitored by Air Traffic Control at the George Airport to ensure pilots adhere to the relevant standard operating procedures, which in turn are attached to approval from the Central Airspace Management Unit (CAMU) – the authority in South Africa responsible for the management of air traffic flow and capacity management.
“While the landing and take-offs may feel quite close to some residents, they are legal and safe. Pilots operating emergency aircraft are exceptionally experienced and qualified – the very nature of the jobs they have chosen are aimed at the rescue, protection and well-being of people and property.
“We reiterate the Denneoord airstrip is not an airport, but a dedicated emergency airbase for firefighting purposes only. Flights will be reactive only, which means if the aircraft takes off, there is a fire somewhere in the Eden District Municipal Area that requires aerial assistance and support.
“Like any disaster management situation, emergency aircraft may temporarily impact on residents surrounding the airstrip, but we believe the benefits of having life and property saving firefighting aircraft on standby during the high-risk fire season outweighs temporary impacts such as non-continual noise (which are exempted by the Western Cape Noise Control Regulations arising from emergency situations). We only need to remember the thousands of people who were displaced and left homeless during the Garden Route fires in June 2017 to understand the airstrip’s importance,” said Mr Barnard.
Authorisation for the development of an airstrip for emergency firefighting services by the Western Cape Government Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning was preceded by an environmental impact assessment – which took into consideration aspects such as noise, impacts on birds and animals, waste management and Civil Aviation Authority compliance – and included a public participation process.
The Denneoord site was the only available municipal land long enough for the establishment of an airstrip and with an available water source and infrastructure to house emergency aircraft and fill them in the required time for the firefighting response to be effective and efficient.
This Press Release was issued by George Municipality
Six (6) Firefighters and one EMS officer, have been given the opportunity to travel to Johannesburg to attend South African Emergency Services Institute (SAESI) training and competition from 30 October – 3 November 2017.
Representatives currently at SAESI include Mr Lushiano James, Mr Hein Leslie, Mr Branwille Abrahams, Mr Kirwin Gericke, Mr Emile Conrad, Deon Madekane and Mr Jetro Jacobs.
The focus of the past two days of training was on vehicle extrication. Today Firefighters will compete in a vehicle extrication and Firefighter Combat Challenge until 3 November 2017.
Mr Clive Africa, Executive Manager: Community Services, explains: “The training is essential for firefighters because of the intricacy and technical aspects related to vehicle extrication. Firefighters have to be careful in their approach to similar emergency situations. I also think that with the holiday season coming up, we will be more than ready for any possible emergency.”
Executive Mayor, Cllr Memory Booysen extended a word of encouragement to representatives by saying: “Eden DM Council wishes the representatives all the best for the challenge tomorrow – they will make us proud – as always”.
Management of Eden District Municipality, on 30 June 2017, recognised and praised efforts by all the dedicated, courageous and heroic Eden DM firefighters and those who volunteered during the June 2017 inferno. It was the most devastating fire that swept through the Eden district since 1869.
Cllr Memory Booysen, Executive Mayor of Eden District Municipality, during his keynote address at the Appreciation Ceremony, explained to those present that there are no words to describe what firefighters and volunteers went through. “No matter what we say or how we say it, we will never experience the emotions and trauma that you all had to. You all saw properties destroyed, people and animals die. I also understand that you might have felt helpless at times, but be assured that we were and will always support and pray for you, every step of the way”.
Mr Johan Brand, Eden DM Station Officer (white shirt, left with Drone controls) takes a photo of firefighters, volunteers and managers who were given recognition for their efforts during the June 2017 inferno.
Cllr Booysen boasted about the firefighters’ accolades and reminded those present, that Eden DM has the best firefighters in South Africa. “You know when you are good; it rubs off on others, you make me feel like a Toughest Firefighter too.” He said that during his engagements with the President of South Africa, Mr Jacob Zuma and the Premier of the Western Cape, Ms Helen Zille, he reiterated to them about Eden DM having the best firefighters in South Africa and that they did the best that they could under the circumstances.”
The Mayor also reminded everyone that when one house or twenty houses are destroyed, it is a disaster and that when a family suffers, it is also a disaster. Mayor Booysen made a promise that the conditions that firefighters return to at the Eden DM Fire station’s dormitories and facilities will be improved, “starting today”. He was baffled by the fact that firefighters never complained about the space they returned to after hours of tireless work and pleaded with them to raise issues in the future.
Mr Monde Stratu, Eden DM Municipal Manager (MM), committed to the Mayor’s instruction of creating a long-overdue relaxing space for firefighters. He also announced that Mr Gerhard Otto, Eden DM Manager: Disaster Management, was nominated to form part of the National Disaster Management Centre’s task team responsible for preparing guidelines that will be used to address disaster relief initiatives in South Africa.
Mr Gerhard Otto gave a brief overview of the fires over the past seven months and stressed that firefighters hardly had a normal life. “Many firefighters in the Eden District had to sleep at work for days on end, leaving families alone and worried at home.” During December 2016, persistent dry weather conditions fuelled wildfires which affected large parts of Knysna, Mossel Bay, Hessequa and George. It is predicted that annually, 7% of the Eden District will burn.
For Mr Otto, the June 2017 inferno reminded him of the seriousness of the tragedy that struck the United States of America on 11 September 2001. The entire world watched in shock and horror how the tragedy unfolded. “Fortunately for the district, we were able to deploy 1106 firefighters from all over South Africa. Every single person’s efforts had an invaluable effect on lives and properties saved.”
Recent statistics about the disaster, are as follows:
Aircraft from various institutions dropped approximately 1700 water bombs. In total, this amounted to 2.9 million litres of water bombs.
Knysna lost 805 formal dwellings and Bitou, 80.
48 Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) houses were destroyed.
180 Informal structures were destroyed.
The wind damaged 456 homes in George.
Aerial firefighting costs amount to R13.5 million (SANDF R8 million, Working on Fire R5.5 million).
The has amounted to R4.2 billion in damages.
The Eden DM Mayoral Committee and Speaker salute firefighters and volunteers. Fltr are: Cllr Memory Booysen (Executive Mayor), Cllr Rosina Ruiters (Deputy Executive Mayor and Portfolio Chairperson: Local Economic Development), Cllr Khayalethu Lose (Portfolio Chairperson: Community Services), Cllr Joslyn Johnson (Portfolio Chairperson: Rural Development), Cllr Erica Meyer (Portfolio Chairperson: Strategic Services), Cllr Jerome Lambaatjeen (Portfolio Chairperson: Financial Services) and Cllr Mark Willemse, Speaker.As a sign of respect for lives and property lost, Mr Emile Conrad, Eden DM Senior Firefighter(left) performed a beautiful saxophone rendition of “I was blind, but now I see” with Mr Deon van Wyk, Deputy Fire Chief (right) who rang the firefighter’s bell.Shortly after firefighters performed a parade, Cllr Memory Booysen, Eden DM Executive Mayor and Mr Monde Stratu, Eden DM Municipal Manager awarded firefighters with medals and certificates. Pictured is Ms Michelle Smalberger, Senior Eden DM Firefighter, walking towards the Mayor and MM to receive a medal and certificate.Cllr Memory Booysen, Eden DM Executive Mayor, promises that Eden DM Management will ensure that the dormitories are conducive to a relaxing and well-deserved environment for firefighters.
Mr Johan Brand, Eden DM Station Officer, who presented the Appreciation Programme, also made use of a slideshow to visually present how different areas in the Eden district have been affected since December 2016. All firefighters received medals of honour and certificates. Special recognition was given to Mr Phillip Wilken, who voluntarily fought fires by working side-by-side with Mr Deon van Wyk, Eden DM Deputy Fire Chief. Mr Deon Van Wyk, rang a bell in tribute to efforts by all firefighters. While the bell rang, Eden DM Firefighter, Mr Emile Conrad performed a beautiful saxophone rendition of I was blind, but now I see.
Mr Clive Africa, Eden DM Executive Manager, Community Services, during his address said: “Out of the ashes, beauty has come forth in the form of hope, compassion, courage, kindness, forgiveness, and above all, the spirit of generosity by the people of South Africa and across the world”.
