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City’s Pinelands sewer depot braves a house fire, to rescue a two-month-old baby

The City’s Water and Sanitation Pinelands sewer depot team, found themselves in the right place, at the right time, to go beyond the call of duty and save lives. After a fire broke out at a double-storey residence in Heideveld, eight officials sprang into action as first responders, quickly evacuating the family from their home. Among those rescued was a two-month-old baby, stuck in an upstairs bedroom.

The team came across the fire last Monday, 20 November, while en route from attending to a blocked sewer in Athlone. They themselves had to unexpectedly leave the area that they were servicing for safety, due to a shooting incident. As they were driving down Klipfontein Road, they saw a house alight and knew that they had to assist by acting swiftly. Splitting the work for efficiency, some officials supported by evacuating the parents and three young children, then keeping them safely away from danger. Another two male officials heroically climbed onto the roof of the garage, then broke through a window, to rescue the couple's two-month-old baby who was stuck in a bedroom upstairs. <figure class="subtopic-fullsize-img"> <img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/City%E2%80%99s%20sewer%20team%20bravely%20responds%20to%20Heideveld%20house%20fire%201.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="width:949px;" /> </figure>The team then went on to put out the fire, using non-potable water which was available in their jet combination truck, normally used to respond to sewer blockages. When the City's Fire and Rescue services arrived on the scene, the fire had already been extinguished thanks to Lee-Roy Sheldon, Gideon Tyman, Naziem De Jager, Verona Joseph, Ismail Boer, Quinton Sakala, Faeeza Malherbe and Claudia Josias. The City's Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien met with the team to thank them and honour them for their outstanding service, compassion and nimble thinking. <figure class="subtopic-fullsize-img"> <img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/City%E2%80%99s%20sewer%20team%20bravely%20responds%20to%20Heideveld%20house%20fire%202.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="width:949px;" /> </figure>'The heroism that this team displayed shows how officials are everyday working together, towards truly making Cape Town a City of Hope. They lived our City values boldly and put everything aside to respond to the call of duty. Also commendable is the sincerity and care for the wellbeing of the family in their time of need.' said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien. Following the incident, the officials took it a step further, sponsoring basic essentials to the family in their personal capacity, in order to help them rebuild their lives. <figure class="subtopic-fullsize-img"> <img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/City%E2%80%99s%20sewer%20team%20bravely%20responds%20to%20Heideveld%20house%20fire%203.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="width:949px;" /> </figure>End

2023-11-27T22:00:00Z

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