The Executive Mayor of the Joe Gqabi District Municipality (JGDM), Councillor (Cllr) Nomvuyo Mposelwa, has announced the launch of the municipality’s pilot phase of the Sterkspruit Fire Station, which will operate over the next nine months.
This important milestone aims to enhance emergency response and fire management capacity in the Senqu Local Municipality, and forms part of the institution’s broader commitment to strengthening fire service management and improving service delivery in rural communities.
The pilot phase will allow the municipality to assess operational effectiveness, refine response protocols, and identify resource requirements to ensure that the facility meets the district’s long-term emergency service needs.
The Executive Mayor welcomed the launch, describing it as “a practical step toward safeguarding lives and property in Sterkspruit and surrounding villages.”
“This pilot phase will help us test our systems and ensure that when the fire station becomes fully operational, it will be efficient, responsive, and sustainable,” she added.
The pilot will be implemented within existing municipal resources, without the allocation of additional funding. It will run under the oversight of the District Disaster Management Unit, in collaboration with local and provincial stakeholders. It is hoped that during the pilot phase, others involved in the complex shared service delivery model for fire services will start to contribute resources to enable a sustainable solution.
Cllr Mposelwa further stated,“As a municipality, we are committed to providing essential services that protect our communities. The Sterkspruit Fire Station pilot is an investment in preparedness and resilience for the people of Joe Gqabi.”
The municipality will review the outcomes of the pilot phase after nine months to inform decisions regarding the permanent establishment and full-scale operation of the fire station.
