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Maquassi Hills sub-district fire department fails to serve the community




Following a fire that broke in the evening of Wednesday, 22 July 2026 in Mamarela infomal settlement, the Maquassi Hills sub-district fire department failed to reach a burning shack due to non-working emergency line

According to witness account, the residents in Mamarela called the victim, Leonard Pelesa to inform him of the matter

Pelesa allegedly tried to contact the fire department located in Wolmaransstad, however, failed to reach it due to non-working emergency landline. Pelesa's shack burned to the ground leaving particulars such as ID documents, birth certificates of his children, clothes and other belongings into ashes

Pelesa is reportedly living with a loved ones in Tambo 2 area in Tswelelang after losing all he had in his shack. He is also reported to be receiving assistance to apply for new IDs for himself and his partner he has been staying with at the Home Affairs offices in Wolmaransstad along with birth certificates lost

Disclaimer: Fire images used for illustration based on the article, these images are not necessarily from the scene

Community Activist, Mpho Masibi, is calling for this matter to be addressed immediately amid fears that the same situation may happen to the next household without fire department's assistance during emergencies 

"We are aware of what is happening at the fire department, we tried multiple times to contact it's emergency landline, however, it does not go through. Recently, the department had a gate crisis with automatic motor till-to-date, it does not operate. We are worried for the safety of the employees, we wish that management may come up with a solution that the safety of employees may be prioritised" - Community Activist, Mpho Masibi

Masibi also stressed on the issue of emergency vehicles which are allegedly not operating when there are emergencies, there are currently 6 vehicles which are stationery at the fire station based in Wolmaransstad, however, it is reported that only one vehicle that is on standby to tend to emergencies that might arise, he says the issue has to be addressed 

"These vehicles when they are supposed to operate during emergencies, there seems to be a problem, so we are determined to make sure that our fire department has all systems in place" - Community Activist, Mpho Masibi




Concerned community member, who asked to be anonymous, highlighted that, the fire department based in Wolmaransstad serves a huge community of Maquassi Hills, fire essential services need to be place for any emergencies 

"This fire station serves the entire Maquassi Hills with only 6 emergency vehicles, how can they say these vehicles are not operational, even emergency landline. In future, we might have a case of a huge building catching fire, what will happen as these vehicles are not operational. What efforts have they took to ensure that these emergency vehicles are operational and are able to assist the community. And if emergency landline isn't also operational, our communities will have a crisis of houses burning down" - Concerned community member 

Speaking to Wolmaransstad Link, Station Director, Mr Sothoane said, his office has never received a report about a burned house in Tswelelang 






"We have never received a report about a burned house on the 22nd July 2026, and the issue of emergency landline, it's not only our office that is affected, all offices in the district do not have landlines that are operational" - Maquassi Hills Director in Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Fire Department 

Sothoane said, the matter will be investigated to find out what transpired on the day of the said event. He also said that local disaster is in touch with the family of the affected

Wolmaransstad Link proud partner of Learners Classroom Wolmaransstad 

To book a Learners Driver spot, contact them on: 072 303 1918 or visit them at: Rood Street NR 9 Wolmaransstad 2630

Updated: August 2026 

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