Remaining fire engines can cope - GCC officer

BAME PIET
Staff Writer | Friday February 1, 2008 00:00

 

But a GCC source has told Mmegi that the city council's fire engines are poorly serviced. The source, who requested anonymity, says the engines' service plans are not followed because authorities say there is no money. A fire engine was involved in an accident last November, while the second one was the one that overturned on January 14 this year. A third is undergoing major service. That and the two accidents have left the city council with only three fire engines available to respond to emergencies.

'But what surprises us about this service is that the mechanic has charged the city council a sum total of over P200,000; P179,000 for labour, P50,000 for body work, and an additional P40,000,' the source said, adding that the job did not go to tender. 

The source says the job is being done at a GCC workshop at Sebele in Gaborone North. 

The fire engine was dismantled in October last year. Parts ordered from South Africa are only expected to arrive this week or next week.

Acting Fire Station Officer Tladi Pilane confirmed that a fire engine was undergoing major service and that the council is still investigating the cause of the recent accident and how much will be required to repair the fire engine involved. 

Pilane says the council's fire engines need replacing as they are very old. 'The ones we have were purchased in the 1990s. They are very old.' Pilane could not be drawn on how much GCC is being charged for the one being serviced.

He says the functional fire engines can cope with any emergency. City Clerk Kutlwano Matenge could not be reached for comment.