Cosmo City to have its own fire station
18 March 2016
Cosmo City in the City of Johannesburg’s Region C is to soon have its own fire station.
Speaking at a sod turning ceremony in the area on Thursday March 17, Executive Mayor Councillor Parks Tau said the construction of the fire station, expected to be completed by December 2016, fitted into the City’s strategy of improving public safety and preventing mortalities in emergency situations such as fire and medical disasters.
“Cosmo City is an example of the City’s flagship projects of creating integrated housing developments with amenities to serve both the community and business,” Mayor Tau said.
“Cosmo City also has a community that participates in its own development, be it in land use, cleaning the environment or engaging in public safety activities. The community of Cosmo City does not wait for the City to initiate these activities but takes it upon itself to engage the City to improve living conditions. It is, therefore, the City’s aim to replicate the example set by the Cosmo City community in other areas around Joburg,” he said.
The Mayor also paid tribute to Emergency Management Services (EMS) personnel, saying their dedication to serving communities in emergency situations was commendable.
“Their selfless dedication in helping communities in times of disasters and emergencies is exemplary. They also avail themselves as volunteers to assist in other countries facing disasters and other emergencies,” he said.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Public Safety Councillor Sello Lemao said the building of the fire station in Cosmo City was part of the City’s response to calls for the improvement of public safety.
“We seek to provide rapid response to emergencies such as fires and road accidents and minimise mortality rates in such situations,” said MMC Lemao.
“The fire station is an effort on the part of the City to bring amenities closer to the people,” he said.
Ward Councillor Patrick Maisha said Cosmo City residents would always cherish this as an important day in their lives.
“We look forward to having a fire station in our community, which we’ll appreciate as it is ours. We’ve always been saying to the City that the only major amenity lacking in Cosmo City was a fire station,” Councillor Maisha said.
He said the provision of facilities in the community had contributed to a stable environment. EMS Spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi said the fire station would help reduce response times in emergency situations.
“Fire station personnel will also assume a proactive role in serving the community. The fire station will also house a safety training facility to empower the community about safety both at home and on the road,” he said.