AfriForum criticises City of Tshwane for neglecting fire safety at municipal sites
Image: Supplied
Civil rights organisation AfriForum has accused the City of Tshwane of failing to maintain municipal sites, including cemeteries, which pose significant fire hazards as the fire season approaches in August.
This criticism follows last week's warning by the city to landowners and fire protection associations to comply with key fire prevention regulations in order to prevent, predict, manage, and extinguish veld fires.
The City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department urged landowners to adhere to the National Veld and Forest Fire Act, enacted in 1998, to provide guidelines for managing and preventing veld fires.
Additionally, property owners were informed about the City of Tshwane Fire Brigade Service bylaw, published in 2016, outlining specific rules for fire safety in Tshwane.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Tshwane Emergency Services Department, Lindsay Mnguni said: 'It is common cause that lives are often lost as a result of veld, forest and mountain fires, with rural people suffering enormous damage to their livestock and homesteads during the fire season.'
He explained that the fire season is rampant during the dry winter months in Gauteng.
"Large-scale losses to the forestry industry are also incurred regularly. However, dangerous and destructive fire incidents remain an existential threat throughout the year," he said.
However, AfriForum has slammed the city for applying double safety standards, pressuring private landowners and fire protection associations to comply with fire safety regulations while failing to adhere to the same standards itself.
Tarien Cooks, AfriForum's disaster management specialist, said the civil rights organisation fully supports the metro's call to observe relevant fire prevention legislation and regulations.
However, she said, the metro must also adhere to legal requirements as well, in order to ensure the safety of people, animals and infrastructure from fire risks.
She mentioned that the law outlines that property owners or occupiers must ensure their premises don't pose a fire hazard to neighbouring properties due to overgrown vegetation, such as grass, weeds, reeds, shrubs, or trees.
However, she pointed out that the city consistently fails to comply with the same bylaw, despite it applying to the metro as well.
AfriForum expressed concern about various cemeteries and other municipal sites, such as open fields and veld strips adjacent to roads in the metro, citing them as serious fire hazards due to poor maintenance.
Cooks said: 'Overgrown sidewalks and other overgrown open municipal areas are visible throughout the metro. These strips and areas pose a serious fire hazard, yet the metro is failing to meet this critical responsibility. It is especially essential now, in the dry months and during the upcoming windy August and September period, to maintain these sites according to the prescribed requirements. The metro has a responsibility to practice what they preach and not only hold private landowners accountable for complying with the relevant legislation and bylaws.'
rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
20-07-2025
- IOL News
AfriForum criticises City of Tshwane for neglecting fire safety at municipal sites
The City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department raises concerns over fire hazards in Tshwane cemeteries as dry season approaches, urging landowners to adhere to legal guidelines for managing and preventing veld fires. Image: Supplied Civil rights organisation AfriForum has accused the City of Tshwane of failing to maintain municipal sites, including cemeteries, which pose significant fire hazards as the fire season approaches in August. This criticism follows last week's warning by the city to landowners and fire protection associations to comply with key fire prevention regulations in order to prevent, predict, manage, and extinguish veld fires. The City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department urged landowners to adhere to the National Veld and Forest Fire Act, enacted in 1998, to provide guidelines for managing and preventing veld fires. Additionally, property owners were informed about the City of Tshwane Fire Brigade Service bylaw, published in 2016, outlining specific rules for fire safety in Tshwane. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Tshwane Emergency Services Department, Lindsay Mnguni said: 'It is common cause that lives are often lost as a result of veld, forest and mountain fires, with rural people suffering enormous damage to their livestock and homesteads during the fire season.' He explained that the fire season is rampant during the dry winter months in Gauteng. "Large-scale losses to the forestry industry are also incurred regularly. However, dangerous and destructive fire incidents remain an existential threat throughout the year," he said. However, AfriForum has slammed the city for applying double safety standards, pressuring private landowners and fire protection associations to comply with fire safety regulations while failing to adhere to the same standards itself. Tarien Cooks, AfriForum's disaster management specialist, said the civil rights organisation fully supports the metro's call to observe relevant fire prevention legislation and regulations. However, she said, the metro must also adhere to legal requirements as well, in order to ensure the safety of people, animals and infrastructure from fire risks. She mentioned that the law outlines that property owners or occupiers must ensure their premises don't pose a fire hazard to neighbouring properties due to overgrown vegetation, such as grass, weeds, reeds, shrubs, or trees. However, she pointed out that the city consistently fails to comply with the same bylaw, despite it applying to the metro as well. AfriForum expressed concern about various cemeteries and other municipal sites, such as open fields and veld strips adjacent to roads in the metro, citing them as serious fire hazards due to poor maintenance. Cooks said: 'Overgrown sidewalks and other overgrown open municipal areas are visible throughout the metro. These strips and areas pose a serious fire hazard, yet the metro is failing to meet this critical responsibility. It is especially essential now, in the dry months and during the upcoming windy August and September period, to maintain these sites according to the prescribed requirements. The metro has a responsibility to practice what they preach and not only hold private landowners accountable for complying with the relevant legislation and bylaws.'
IOL News
13-07-2025
- IOL News
Investigation under way after deadly fire in Olievenhoutbosch Extension 25
The Olievenhoutbosch community is in mourning following the tragic deaths of five family members in a devastating shack fire. Image: Supplied/ City of Tshwane A devastating shack fire in Olievenhoutbosch Extension 25 has claimed the lives of five family members, leaving the community in shock and grief. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation. Tshwane Emergency Services spokesperson Lindsay Mnguni, said the fire was reported at around 5am on Friday morning, and firefighting resources were immediately dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, firefighters found that the four-room shack had been destroyed, and the five family members, including a senior citizen, one adult, and three minors, had fatally burned. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The City of Tshwane has offered support to the affected family, with Mayor Nasiphi Moya expressing condolences. "This family was devastated by a fire that engulfed their four-room shack, killing five family members. The loss of two children, two adults, and one elder can only be described as a tragedy," Moya said. Local ward councillor Kenneth Masha said the community is devastated by the loss of five family members and believes the tragic deaths should serve as a wake-up call for the government to address the housing issues in his ward. "Such incidents seem to become a norm in this area because of the housing problem in the area," he said, recalling a similar fire incident in the same street about a year and a half ago that claimed the lives of three family members. Residents claim that emergency services only arrived after the fire was already under control, with community members using buckets to extinguish the blaze. The cause of the fire remains unknown, with speculation surrounding the presence of electricity in the shack. Mnguni said various roleplayers were on the scene, working together to manage the incident. He urged communities to remain vigilant and be cautious during winter to prevent and eliminate incidents of this nature. To report any fire or rescue incident, members of the public can call 107 toll-free or 012 358 6300/6400. SAPS Tshwane district spokesperson Warrant Officer Marinda Austin has not yet confirmed whether the police are investigating a case of arson or opening an inquest docket.
The Citizen
12-07-2025
- The Citizen
Shack fire in Olievenhoutbosch kills family of 5, including 3 children
A devastating shack fire ripped through a home in Olievenhoutbosch Extension 25, Centurion, early yesterday morning, killing a family of five as flames engulfed their dwelling before firefighters could save them. According to Pretoria Rekord, this includes three children aged nine to 16 and a senior citizen. City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department spokesperson Lindsay Zwelithini Mnguni confirms the incident. 'The incident was reported to our Emergency Communication Centre at about 05:04, and firefighting resources were immediately dispatched from Heuweloord Fire Station and Centurion Fire Station to the scene. These included two fire engines and a water tanker.' He says that when firefighters arrived, they found the fire had already destroyed the four-roomed shack dwelling. 'Sadly, five family members, including a senior citizen, one adult and three minors, were fatally burned by the devastating fire. The firefighters continued to extinguish the fire as it was still smouldering.' Mnguni says various role-players, including their fire safety section, disaster risk management section, Gauteng Emergency Medical Services, SAPS, Gauteng Forensic Pathology Services, Gauteng crime prevention wardens and community leaders, were also on scene and worked together to assist with incident management. 'Tshwane Emergency Services Department urges communities to remain vigilant and be cautious during winter to prevent and eliminate incidents of this nature that can have a disastrous effect on families and the community.' To report any fire or rescue incident, members of the public are encouraged to call 107 toll-free or 012 358 6300/6400. He adds that when reporting an emergency, members of the public should remain calm, speak clearly, know where they are to give the correct address, and provide their correct contact number to allow the operator to call back if needed. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
