Cape Town’s firefighters are concerned about their safety after a number of violent incidents that took place over the weekend.
A brick smashed through the window of a water tanker in Lakeside on Saturday, December 5, while another group of firefighters were threatened as they tended to a fire in Overcome Heights near Muizenberg on the same day.
Firefighters also required police escorts as they made their way to fight an informal structure fire in Khayelitsha.
City of Cape Town Mayco Member for Safety and Security JP Smith said that 292 fires had to be tended to over the course of the weekend. These included 23 informal structure fires, and 24 formal residence fires, according to News24.
“Their jobs are made all the more difficult when they come under attack from the very communities they are trying to save,” said Smith.
“I appeal once again to residents to respect the job our firefighters do in difficult circumstances.”
Smith also urged communities to report attacks on firefighters.
“Communities need to step up and not only condemn these acts, but also report the perpetrators,” he said. “The very lives of residents are at stake if firefighters are prevented from doing their jobs.”
Picture: Western Cape Gov