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Tshwane and AfriForum Lock Horns Over Tyre Blaze Response
A Fire That Sparked a War of Words
What began as a tyre blaze in Tshwane has now flared into a public spat. After days of smoke and firefighting, the City of Tshwane announced that its emergency services teams had successfully extinguished the fire without external assistance. Yet AfriForum, which often positions itself as a watchdog for government inefficiencies, strongly disputes that claim.
City spokesperson Lindela Mashigo was firm. “The fire was fully extinguished by the city’s teams without external firefighting intervention,” he said. AfriForum, he added, only became involved after the flames were already out, when they lent equipment during mop-up operations.
AfriForum Pushes Back
AfriForum’s Pretoria North district coordinator, Llewellynn Hemmens, has painted a very different picture. He insists that Tshwane emergency services were under-resourced, pointing to weak hydrant pressure, shortages of personnel, and volunteers being turned away despite having suitable equipment.
According to Hemmens, local residents even used their own bakkies to ferry water to the scene when municipal supplies fell short. He claims the blaze was only half extinguished by the middle of the week, long after the city had declared it under control. “It’s sad to hear they are claiming full credit when volunteers were sidelined,” he said.
Beyond the Flames
The clash goes deeper than one fire. At its heart is a tug-of-war between official services and community groups like AfriForum, who argue they should be allowed to supplement overstretched municipal capacity. Tshwane, however, has previously pushed back against private firefighting involvement, insisting it has the equipment and expertise to manage emergencies on its own.
For many residents, the argument feels like déjà vu. Communities across Gauteng have long complained of service delivery failures, whether it is broken hydrants, delayed responses, or political infighting. Against that backdrop, fires become more than disasters; they become symbols of trust or mistrust in local government.
Public Reaction
On social media, the divide is clear. Supporters of AfriForum argue that ordinary people should never be prevented from helping in a crisis, especially when lives and property are at stake. Others defend Tshwane’s position, saying that firefighting requires coordination and trained professionals to prevent chaos on the ground.
For Pretoria North residents who endured the smoke and uncertainty, the political back-and-forth offers little comfort. What matters most is whether, when the next fire breaks out, the response will be swift, united, and effective.
Also read: ‘Too Late for Me,’ Cancer Patient’s Story Exposes Gauteng’s Failing Health System
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Source: The Citizen
Featured Image: iStock
