Firefighting trucks stored in Tshwane awaiting finalisation of MOU process

JOHANNESBURG - The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) says firefighting vehicles it has procured are awaiting the finalisation of Memorandum of Understanding [MOU] processes before being transferred to various municipalities.

The trucks, set to boost Gauteng's disaster and fire management response, arrived at the Tshwane fire station in November 2024, according to the department. 

Deputy Minister, Bernice Swarts said the vehicles are set to be transferred to various municipalities, including Tshwane, once the transfer process has been finalised.

"We are doing everything in our most urgency to get the municipalities to sign off the MOUs [Memorandum of Understanding] with us and to take them to their council meetings. The officials are going to meet with the city manager of the City of Tshwane, my head of office has already started that process."

Swarts further dismissed claims the vehicles had been vandalised.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect new information and correct previous inaccuracies.