The Cape Winelands District Municipality’s (CWDM’s) Fire Services received specialised hazmat equipment, made possible by the Western Cape Government’s Disaster Management, during a handover in Stellenbosch on Thursday 28 August.
The provincial government has embarked on an initiative to strengthen municipal fire services through the added financial support, in recognition of the critical role that suitable equipment plays in the successful management of disasters relating to chemical, biological, and radioactive substances.
A budget of R500 000 was allocated by provincial Disaster Management to help co-fund the acquisition of specialised hazmat equipment in the 2024-’25 financial year. The funding enabled the CWDM’s Fire Services to procure pneumatic pip-plug kits, universal pressure-test kits, large leak-sealing bags, personal electronic dosimeters, zone tarpaulins, hazmat plug and wedge kits, portable decontamination showers, and portable rechargeable LED light kits.
The initiative aims to ensure municipal fire services are compliant with national benchmarks and standards, while also strengthening preparedness to respond effectively and safely to incidents involving dangerous goods. This ultimately helps protect personnel, community members and the environment.
Building on this success, provincial government will release an additional R500 000 for more equipment during the current financial year (2025-’26).
The CWDM’s Fire Services responded to three hazmat incidents during the previous financial year. All the incidents were successfully managed and had little or no impact on the environment.
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