Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi will lead the passing out parade of the all-female crew leaders for the Working on Fire Programme in Nelspruit.
At least 32 women veld and forest fire fighters, who are beneficiaries of the Department of Environmental Affairs’ Working on Fire Programme, were nominated for crew leader training through a rigorous selection process in the Western Cape, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo.
These beneficiaries have undergone an intensive “All Female Crew Leader” training course which will help them deal with psychological and emotional challenges of being crew leaders. In addition, the beneficiaries were trained to become motivated fire fighters who are able to operate safely and efficiently in dangerous and unpredictable work environments.
The training is part of a government funded Working on Fire Programme’s ambitious plan to create more leadership opportunities for women in the veld and forest fire fighting industry in South Africa.
It has grown over the 10 years from 25 teams (850 beneficiaries) in September 2003 to its current force of over 5000 personnel, spread across 200 bases in all the provinces of South Africa. Females make up 32% in the programme’s ranks of fire fighters, the highest level of female participation in any similar fire fighting service in the world.
The Working on Fire Programme has excelled in job creation; skills development and contributing to South Africa’s integrated fire management capacity.
Media is invited to attend the celebration.
Details of the passing out parade are:
Date: Monday, 4 November 2013
Time: 09h00
Venue: Working on Fire Training Academy, Highlands Farm, Uitkyk, Nelspruit
RSVP:
Ernest Mulibana
Cell: 082 263 7372
E-mail: EMulibana@emvironment.gov.za
Sivuyile Ngaba
Cell: 083 958 4663
E-mail: SNgaba@environment.gov.za
For media enquiries:
Peter Mbelengwa
Cell: 082 611 8197
