According to the municipal spokesperson, Tshidiso Tladi, the municipality spent over R6 million to purchase the fire trucks. 

Matjhabeng has been under scrutiny over the lack of a firefighting fleet, which resulted in the fire-related drama that cost lives and properties in towns such as Welkom, Odendaalsrus, and surrounding areas. 

At the time, Kgojane Matutle, who was the spokesperson of the municipality, had informed OFM News that the municipality only had three fire trucks and four skid units that had to service six towns with thirty-six wards, with only one skid unit that was operational. Matutle had also revealed that firefighting vehicles were old and prone to breakdowns.

ALSO READ: Lives lost in Free State due to lack of firefighting fleet

Meanwhile, Tladi said the executive mayor stated these new fire trucks are part of his five-year plan to empower and enable the Fire Department to respond to the needs of our people in emergencies. He added that by the end of July, another fire truck will be procured.

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During the funeral of Free State MEC for Education, Tate Makgoe, ANC Secretary-General, Fikile Mbalula, applauded Khalipha for coming up with a turnaround strategy to improve services in Matjhabeng and further questioned the work that was done by his predecessors. Mbalula has since called on other mayors in the province to follow in the footsteps of Khalipha, to improve the state of Free State municipalities.

ALSO READ: Municipality doubles efforts to eradicate sewage spillage challenges

At the launch of phase 2 of the Virginia-based Meloding Multipurpose Sports Centre earlier this year, Khalipha revealed plans to enhance service delivery in Matjhabeng. He stated that the municipality received R520 million from the national government to fix infrastructure, and the problem experienced with sewage spillages. He further revealed that the national government had also approved the infrastructure grant amounting to R3 billion which is going to improve roads and to create job opportunities for the youth of Matjhabeng.

OFM News