The Joe Gqabi and Chris Hani District Municipalities, were given veld fire equipment in a handover ceremony held in Bisho, on Wednesday.
The kits were bought by the the Provincial Disaster Management Centre in partnership with Santam.
Zolile Williams, MEC of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), said the kits are not enough, to cope with large fires.
“We have made an assessment with regards to fire services, and unfortunately, we are not well resourced. In 2023, a massive fire incident led to many people losing their properties and livestock. As government, we must protect the vulnerable they are the ones most affected by disasters. Public participation should not only focus on municipalities, but also on empowering communities.”
This initiative forms part of Cogta’s ongoing efforts to enhance fire preparedness, improve response capacity, and build resilience among rural and farming communities.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Metro agrees more must be done to prepare for disasters. As a result, a provincial disaster risk seminar, kicks off in Gqeberha on Thursday.
Its aim is to raise awareness, share best practices in disaster risk reduction, response and recovery.
Picture: Supplied