"After a 5,5 magnitude earthquake hit greater parts of Johannesburg including Krugersdorp on 5 August 2014, the West Rand Emergency Management Services claimed that they are 'ready for any disaster that comes their way'.
However an insider at the emergency services claims that they are not ready to take on any disaster -- because they lack equipment and vehicles.
The insider spoke to The News on condition of anonymity for fear of losing his job.
EMS STUCK WITH ONLY ONE FIRETRUCK IN MARCH 2015...
The insider who has contacted the News on more than one occasion to report about the lack of equipment and more importantly vehicles phoned again in March after the EMS was stuck with only one fire truck.
TWELVE HOUR SHIFTS VERY STRENUOUS... AND WHEN ASKED ABOUT EQUIPMENT HE ASKED: 'WHAT EQUIPMENT?"
Furthermore he explained the challenges the personnel face when on a 12 hour long shift, where they sometimes receive up to 16 call outs per shift.
When asked about the state of their equipment, he answered, “What equipment?”
According to the insider they last received proper equipment in 2007.
He recalls times when emergency officials had to race to a scene in a fire truck with barely no gears.
Furthermore the insider states that one of the station’s vehicles was also allegedly damaged in Kagiso after being hit by a petrol bomb and has since still not been repaired.
“There is only one response vehicle to service the whole of Krugersdorp and the greater parts such as Tarlton and Magaliesburg.”
The News contacted the West Rand District Municipality regarding the allegations.
“The West Rand District Municipality allocates the Mogale City area with four fire trucks and they are deployed as follows; one in Magaliesburg and in Kagiso and two in Krugersdorp,” states Dennis Mangope, spokesperson for the West Rand EMS.
According to Mangope, the fire truck for the Kagiso area which was damaged is currently under investigation and repairs will continue shortly.
“Normally such an act needs to be observed and the intervention and expertise of the police determines the real reasons behind this act and also bring the perpetrators to book. The fire truck is currently receiving attention in line with the provisions of the agreement signed between the municipality and the insurance company. It is expected that the vehicle will be back soon,” said Mangope.
According to Mangope the primary response vehicles are also regulated in terms of the Provincial EMS Norms and Standards and are allocated only to Critical Care Assistance of Advanced Life Support Providers (ALSP).
“Whereas all ALSP who were employed by the West rand District Municipality at the time were recruited by the Gauteng Provincial Department of Health some eight years ago, we fortunately managed to recruit one ALSP hence only one response car for Mogale City. The allocation of both firefighting and emergency medical services resources are determined in terms of the relevant National and Provincial Norms and Standards, and of course with the magnitude of calls that these vehicles attend to they are bound to visit the workshop from time to time and that is unfortunately not an excuse but a reality.”
The purchasing and allocation of resources which include vehicles and operational equipment both consumables and hardware remains the direct responsibility of the Gauteng Provincial Department of Health, explains the spokesman.
“To my knowledge the vehicles are roadworthy,” Mangope concluded.
The News plans to keep an eye on the situation and will follow up on the matter.
http://krugersdorpnews.co.za/260780/emergency-services-not-fully-equiped-claims-insider/![]()
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