EWN reported on Friday morning that more than 230 Johannesburg firefighters have been suspended, putting further strain on already overstretched resources.  

Apparently in July, the firefighters refused to attend to call outs, citing concerns over the non-assignment of supervisors.  Joburg Emergency Services Management (ESM) confirmed the suspensions, but would not be drawn on the reasons and merely said they are dealing with the matter internally.  The suspension letters were served on firefighters from different stations across the city last week.  Those suspended account for more than 17% of the metro’s firefighter workforce.  Three employees spoke to Eyewitness News and accused ESM of not adhering to the National Health Act.  They said all that they wanted was to get those in charge to comply with law, viz.:  “We are not on strike, because all those days they say we were on strike we were on duty.  We are abiding by the rules, but they take it the other way around saying we don’t want to work.”

• Read the original of the above report by Mia Lindeque at EWN

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