16 Sep Mahikeng lacks resources to fight fires

The Mahikeng local municipality has admitted it doesn’t have the capacity to fight fires – after admitting it has no money to buy fire trucks or to hire permanent firefighters. Its firefighters have been on contract for more than five years.

At least three of its fire trucks have been out of action while undergoing repairs. Last week, the municipality had to borrow a fire truck from the local airport to offer support to its one operational fire truck in battling a blaze that engulfed the Mmabatho Palms Hotel.

It’s not the first time that Mahikeng has struggled with resources. In 2019 a fire that broke out in part of a shopping complex caused extensive damage and the lack of adequate resources was partly blamed for this.