Minister praises returning SA firefighters

Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa sang the praises of the firefighters who returned from Canada after a pay dispute.

Cape Town - South African Minister of Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa on Monday congratulated the South African firefighters who were deployed to Canada to assist in fighting wildfires.

“We remain immensely proud of our well-trained firefighters who have done excellent work over a number of years, which has been recognised by the international firefighting community,” said Molewa.

Her congratulations followed a pay dispute by the firefighters – who are employed by Working on Fire (WoF), a government project under the expanded public works programme – who downed their hoses on June 8, soon after their much-celebrated arrival in Alberta, Canada. A video of their song and dance at an Alberta airport went viral on social media.

Reportedly, the young firefighters – who were part of the team that worked on quelling the blazes in the Western Cape in 2015 – heard on Canadian news that they were being paid Canadian $50 for a 12-hour workday, far less than what was being reported by some South African media outlets, between $15 and $21 per hour.

Since, WOF has refuted what they deem to be false reports and a WoF mediator, Trevor Abrahams, was dispatched by Molewa to Canada to assist in resolving the dispute.

However, according to the Department of Environment Affairs, due to the heavy rainfall in the area, there was no longer a need for the firefighters who would, along with other foreign teams, make their way back home. Furthermore, the Department said the firefighters had agreed to the demobilisation.

Ahead of their return, Molewa stated: “We call upon the nation not to condemn the firefighters. Condemning them for disappointing us can only demoralise them despite their successful track-record. Upon their arrival at home, we will engage with them to adopt appropriate mechanisms through which they could raise any legitimate concerns in future, should they have any.”

According to the Department, an internal inquiry will be conducted to “ascertain what could have led to the dispute in Canada”.

“Rest assured, our number one priority is and always was around the well-being of our firefighters and to ensure the longevity of the Working on Fire programme,” said Molewa.

The Department, along with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, would also work with the Canadian government to establish a memorandum of understanding for future similar relations.

“We look forward to receiving our fire fighters and that they will continue with their good work at home,” said Molewa.

The 301 firefighters and the management from WOF were expected to return to South Africa on Tuesday.

ANA