Makhado fire station fully operational again

Date: 26 May 2016 By: Isabel Venter

As the dry winter months are upon the region, the news that the Makhado Fire Station is once again functional serves to warm the hearts of residents.

Two months ago, the Zoutpansberger reported on the station after it became known that they had no fire trucks available to deal with emergencies. Their last available truck was damaged beyond repair in an accident on Friday, 18 March. While on duty near the Vuwani Fire Training Centre and Fire Station, the driver of the fire truck allegedly swerved to avoid running over a pedestrian crossing the road. The truck left the road and overturned. The only other fire truck the Makhado station owns has been in the repair shop for well over a year after its gearbox reportedly broke down.

About two weeks ago, the Makhado station’s fleet was supplemented with a fire truck from the Malamulele station. This means that the Makhado Station once again has a fully function fire truck. The other truck has yet to be repaired. As far as the newspaper was able to determine, the faulty gearbox is in such a state that it should rather be replaced in its entirety than just repaired.

In the meantime, the newspaper tried again to follow up with the Vhembe District Municipality (VDM) in the hope of finally getting some answers from them. In particular, the newspaper again enquired about a promise the VDM had made last year to provide new emergency vehicles to the Makhado fire station and others in the region. At our time of our going to press, the VDM spokesperson, Mr Matodzi Ralushai, had yet to respond.

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Isabel Venter

Isabel joined the Zoutpansberger and Limpopo Mirror in 2009 as a reporter. She holds a BA Degree in Communication Sciences from the University of South Africa. Her beat is mainly crime and court reporting.

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