The Cape Winelands District Municipality’s (CWDM) Fire Services Training Academy celebrated the graduation of 23 firefighters on Friday 21 November.
Unusually, the event was hosted at the Ysterplaat Air Force Base to allow the Department of Defence (DoD) graduates the honour of stepping out on their own ground.
The firefighters completed various components of their fire training, including Firefighter 1, Hazmat Awareness, and Hazmat Operations. The programme commenced on Monday 18 August and concluded on Friday.
“The CWDM’s Fire and Rescue Services Training Academy has, through training firefighters from various DoD units, developed strong relationships and created a solid platform for collaboration,” said CWDM mayor Dr Elna von Schlicht.
“By developing skills across multiple disciplines, we have expanded the footprint of trained firefighters, ensuring that there are able-bodied responders in areas that previously had none or had only limited access.”
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The graduation ceremony included long-held fire service traditions, such as the formal parade of firefighters. The showcase demonstrated how the group works as a cohesive, disciplined team capable of following the direction of their leader.
Heinrich Louw, a regional training commander who has been training firefighters since 2013, expressed his pride in the group. “Every group is different and every person faces unique challenges. It is with pride that I watch them develop into a team of firefighters. Though they come from different walks of life, they form a single firefighting force – they become a brotherhood,” said Louw.
During the event, CWDM chief fire officer Wayne Josias shared that the district’s Fire Services are well prepared for the 2025-’26 fire season.
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“Not only are we seeing an increase in the number of fires, but the intensity and duration of these fires are also rising. Maintaining firebreaks and keeping the wild areas adjacent to your property clear of flammable materials – such as dead vegetation and rubbish – can greatly reduce the risk of fires that destroy homes,” Josias pointed out.
No graduation is complete without celebrating the exceptional few students, who were recognised for their academic and practical achievements.
The top student in both the theoretical and practical components of the course was young Sebastiaan van der Walt, a reservist at Stellenbosch Municipality.
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