Latest news with #LindsayMnguni
IOL News
a day ago
- General
- IOL News
AfriForum criticises City of Tshwane for neglecting fire safety at municipal sites
The City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department raises concerns over fire hazards in Tshwane cemeteries as dry season approaches, urging landowners to adhere to legal guidelines for managing and preventing veld fires. Image: Supplied Civil rights organisation AfriForum has accused the City of Tshwane of failing to maintain municipal sites, including cemeteries, which pose significant fire hazards as the fire season approaches in August. This criticism follows last week's warning by the city to landowners and fire protection associations to comply with key fire prevention regulations in order to prevent, predict, manage, and extinguish veld fires. The City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department urged landowners to adhere to the National Veld and Forest Fire Act, enacted in 1998, to provide guidelines for managing and preventing veld fires. Additionally, property owners were informed about the City of Tshwane Fire Brigade Service bylaw, published in 2016, outlining specific rules for fire safety in Tshwane. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Tshwane Emergency Services Department, Lindsay Mnguni said: 'It is common cause that lives are often lost as a result of veld, forest and mountain fires, with rural people suffering enormous damage to their livestock and homesteads during the fire season.' He explained that the fire season is rampant during the dry winter months in Gauteng. "Large-scale losses to the forestry industry are also incurred regularly. However, dangerous and destructive fire incidents remain an existential threat throughout the year," he said. However, AfriForum has slammed the city for applying double safety standards, pressuring private landowners and fire protection associations to comply with fire safety regulations while failing to adhere to the same standards itself. Tarien Cooks, AfriForum's disaster management specialist, said the civil rights organisation fully supports the metro's call to observe relevant fire prevention legislation and regulations. However, she said, the metro must also adhere to legal requirements as well, in order to ensure the safety of people, animals and infrastructure from fire risks. She mentioned that the law outlines that property owners or occupiers must ensure their premises don't pose a fire hazard to neighbouring properties due to overgrown vegetation, such as grass, weeds, reeds, shrubs, or trees. However, she pointed out that the city consistently fails to comply with the same bylaw, despite it applying to the metro as well. AfriForum expressed concern about various cemeteries and other municipal sites, such as open fields and veld strips adjacent to roads in the metro, citing them as serious fire hazards due to poor maintenance. Cooks said: 'Overgrown sidewalks and other overgrown open municipal areas are visible throughout the metro. These strips and areas pose a serious fire hazard, yet the metro is failing to meet this critical responsibility. It is especially essential now, in the dry months and during the upcoming windy August and September period, to maintain these sites according to the prescribed requirements. The metro has a responsibility to practice what they preach and not only hold private landowners accountable for complying with the relevant legislation and bylaws.'
IOL News
13-07-2025
- General
- IOL News
Investigation under way after deadly fire in Olievenhoutbosch Extension 25
The Olievenhoutbosch community is in mourning following the tragic deaths of five family members in a devastating shack fire. Image: Supplied/ City of Tshwane A devastating shack fire in Olievenhoutbosch Extension 25 has claimed the lives of five family members, leaving the community in shock and grief. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation. Tshwane Emergency Services spokesperson Lindsay Mnguni, said the fire was reported at around 5am on Friday morning, and firefighting resources were immediately dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, firefighters found that the four-room shack had been destroyed, and the five family members, including a senior citizen, one adult, and three minors, had fatally burned. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The City of Tshwane has offered support to the affected family, with Mayor Nasiphi Moya expressing condolences. "This family was devastated by a fire that engulfed their four-room shack, killing five family members. The loss of two children, two adults, and one elder can only be described as a tragedy," Moya said. Local ward councillor Kenneth Masha said the community is devastated by the loss of five family members and believes the tragic deaths should serve as a wake-up call for the government to address the housing issues in his ward. "Such incidents seem to become a norm in this area because of the housing problem in the area," he said, recalling a similar fire incident in the same street about a year and a half ago that claimed the lives of three family members. Residents claim that emergency services only arrived after the fire was already under control, with community members using buckets to extinguish the blaze. The cause of the fire remains unknown, with speculation surrounding the presence of electricity in the shack. Mnguni said various roleplayers were on the scene, working together to manage the incident. He urged communities to remain vigilant and be cautious during winter to prevent and eliminate incidents of this nature. To report any fire or rescue incident, members of the public can call 107 toll-free or 012 358 6300/6400. SAPS Tshwane district spokesperson Warrant Officer Marinda Austin has not yet confirmed whether the police are investigating a case of arson or opening an inquest docket.
The Citizen
18-06-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Massive depot fire in Mabopane destroys 23 parked buses
A total of 23 buses have been destroyed in a fire that broke out at a private bus company depot in Mabopane, to the north of Pretoria, yesterday afternoon, Tshwane Emergency Services has confirmed. According to Pretoria Rekord, spokesperson Lindsay Mnguni said firefighters responded swiftly to the scene and managed to save 14 buses from being engulfed by the blaze. No injuries were reported, and the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation. 'When our teams arrived, they found several buses already ravaged by the fire,' said Mnguni, adding that the buses were parked in an open area at the depot. Mnguni said the destroyed buses were not in operation and had not been commissioned, meaning public transport services for commuters in the area will not be affected. He added that the buses do not belong to the City of Tshwane. Firefighters managed to extinguish the fire and remained on the scene to continue damping down operations to cool the area and eliminate any chance of reignition. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
18-06-2025
- General
- IOL News
Devastating fire ravages Star Line Bus Company depot, leaving 23 buses burnt
Thick black smoke billows from the yard of the Star Line Bus company in Mabopane, north of Pretoria. A blaze left more than 20 of the company's buses gutted. Image: Facebook: Mbonani News Hub A fire broke out at the Star Line Bus Company depot in Mabopane, north of Pretoria, on Tuesday afternoon, resulting in the destruction of over 20 buses. The blaze, which was initially reported as a grassfire just after midday, escalated swiftly into a major incident as firefighters arrived to find several buses ablaze in the open yard. Lindsay Mnguni, spokesperson for the City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department, confirmed that the proximity of the parked buses and windy conditions contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. Firefighters from nearby stations, including Mabopane, Rosslyn, and Wonderboom, mobilised immediately, deploying an arsenal of firefighting resources. Two foam tenders, two fire engines, an aerial ladder, and a district commander's unit were all brought to bear on the inferno. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'The windy conditions exacerbated the fire spread, but the swift actions of the firefighters helped to successfully stop the fire from spreading and further damaging these 14 other buses,' Mnguni said. Firefighters managed to salvage 14 buses despite the overwhelming destruction. There were no reported injuries stemming from the incident. However, the losses to the bus company are considerable, with a total of 23 buses declared burnt, some of which are almost entirely destroyed. While the investigation into the cause of the fire remains ongoing, Mnguni urged the public to remain vigilant and to report any fire or rescue incidents promptly. 'When reporting an emergency, please remain calm, speak clearly, know where you are, and provide your correct contact number to the operator,' he added. The devastation at the Star Line Bus Company came as a stark reminder of the unpredictability of emergencies, reinforcing the need for awareness and preparedness in the community. DAILY NEWS
The Citizen
18-06-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Massive depot fire in Mabopane destroys 23 parked buses - LNN
A total of 23 buses have been destroyed in a fire that broke out at a private bus company depot in Mabopane, to the north of Pretoria, yesterday afternoon, Tshwane Emergency Services has confirmed. According to Pretoria Rekord , spokesperson Lindsay Mnguni said firefighters responded swiftly to the scene and managed to save 14 buses from being engulfed by the blaze. No injuries were reported, and the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation. 'When our teams arrived, they found several buses already ravaged by the fire,' said Mnguni, adding that the buses were parked in an open area at the depot. Mnguni said the destroyed buses were not in operation and had not been commissioned, meaning public transport services for commuters in the area will not be affected. He added that the buses do not belong to the City of Tshwane. Firefighters managed to extinguish the fire and remained on the scene to continue damping down operations to cool the area and eliminate any chance of reignition. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here.
