The Democratic Alliance (DA) would like to thank all firefighters, volunteers, NGOs and residents who, without fear for their own safety and well-being, battled the recent devastating fires that raged across the Kouga Municipality.
Their bravery, commitment and tireless efforts went a long way in protecting our communities against rampant fires that destroyed an estimated 25 000 hectares of land.
These efforts were supported by the exemplary leadership demonstrated by Mayor Hattingh Bornman and his team throughout this crisis.
Mayor Bornman led from the front, literally on the ground and at the coal face every day. He was truly tireless in his efforts to coordinate the response to the fires and communicate with residents.
His team faced this crisis head-on and systematically worked with all those involved to meticulously fight fire with fire.
It was a monumental undertaking and a Joint Operations Committee (JOC) was established, comprising various local and external stakeholders, to coordinate response efforts using a Whole-of-Society approach. This structure enabled effective collaboration, information sharing, and rapid decision-making across all role players.
Significant municipal resources were mobilised, with a large portion of the fleet, including suction tankers, being channelled to supply water to firefighting units. This level of support was only possible due to the municipality’s fleet being 98% operational.
Mayor Bornman and the Acting Municipal Manager conducted aerial assessments of the affected areas to evaluate the extent of the damage firsthand. Following these assessments, they reported directly to the JOC, providing strategic direction on the way forward.
Three aerial support aircraft were deployed as part of the firefighting operations. To date, these aircraft have collectively dropped approximately 1.26 million litres of water and have accumulated 91 flight hours in aerial firefighting support.
Advanced technology, such as drones, played a crucial role in extinguishing fires and detecting potential flare-ups, underscoring the comprehensive approach taken to manage the crisis.
The DA is grateful to all involved and their service to their communities will never be forgotten.