WINDVOGEL - NELSON MANDELA BAY MUNICIPALITY LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION AFTER TROLLIP DOUSES HOUSE BLAZE

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has lashed out against Democratic Alliance mayoral candidate Athol Trollip for assisting a fire crew in extinguishing a fire that destroyed three homes in Port Elizabeth’s Northern Areas.

Over the past weekend, while on the campaign trail, Trollip was on his way back from an event in Cleary Park when his group noticed a house burning near the Main Road in Windvogel.

Trollip was subsequently seen in pictures with a hose trying to douse the blaze.

The metro has since launched an internal investigation.

Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Fikile Desi, said that the investigation was of critical importance as the city would not allow a situation where professional firemen and women could possibly have been “impeded during the execution of their duties”.

Desi alluded to Trollip using the situation as a publicity stunt and posing for pictures where flames and smoke were visible.

“The suggestion that the officials needed help could also send the wrong message as the team deployed to deal with the emergency were sufficient and if help were required reinforcements would have been called for from one of the closest fire stations.”

He said that three fire machines with crews of at least four professionals per vehicle had been dispatched to the house on Saturday.

“Clarity is now sought if the Fire Brigade Services Act were transgressed as members of the public could easily emulate Mr Trollip’s actions by attempting to extinguish a fire without protective clothing and the relevant training while professional men and women are at the scene.

“The critical question how Mr Trollip managed to get a fire hose to pose for a photo session while flames and smoke are still clearly visible on the publicity pictures must now be answered,” said Desi.

VIA - iol.co.za