Two fatal accidents within a few weeks, with deaths that could possibly have been prevented, once again underline why the Mmamahabane Fire Station in Ventersburg should not remain non-operational.
Ventersburg is situated alongside one of South Africa’s busiest national routes and continually experiences heavy traffic, including trucks, holiday travellers and other road users. So, the area needs functional emergency and rescue services on a daily basis.
On 17 October, two people died in a head-on collision near Ventersburg. And a truck was involved in another fatal accident on the N1 on 29 October.
There is no guarantee that it would have been possible to save the lives of the deceased, but the reality remains that injured persons have a much better chance of survival if they receive specialist care as soon as possible after an accident.
The Mmamahabane Fire Station was built in 2015 at a cost of approximately R14 million to provide fire and rescue services to Ventersburg and surrounds. More than a decade later, it is non-operational. Parts of the building have been vandalised and it has never delivered the services for which taxpayers paid.
Through the years, promises were made to staff, repair and bring the Fire Station into operation, but it never happened.
Meanwhile, specialised fire and rescue services have to be called in from Welkom, approximately 50 km from Ventersburg. Seeing as every minute counts in an emergency, this is a cause for serious concern.
With the festive season and December holidays approaching, traffic volumes on the N1 are expected to increase sharply. This makes the need for a fully functional fire and rescue service in Ventersburg even more urgent.
The Freedom Front Plus will, therefore, press the Acting Municipal Manager, Mr Thabo Panyane, and the Free State government for answers as to why the Fire Station is still not operational as well as a clear timeline for when it will finally be brought into operation.
The decline of essential services in Ventersburg demonstrates why decision-making powers and financial control should be devolved to the lowest possible level of government.
Smaller local municipalities should have control over their own money, buildings and emergency services so that they can effectively use them to address each community’s actual needs.
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