Ninety Cape Town firemen have had to undergo trauma counselling this year following attacks during call-outs to emergencies.
Seventeen such incidents were reported in the City during the last financial year, seven of which occurred in the vicinity of Wallacedene and Bloekombos.
Fire crews from Brackenfell and Kraaifontein fire stations were attacked.
A report tabled by the City’s fire chief Ian Schnetler in Subcouncil 2 last week, outlined these attacks.
In the latest incident in June firemen from Kraaifontein fire station was at an incident in Maroela street, Wallacedene, when members of the community started pelting the fire truck with stones causing the crew to withdraw.
In another two incidents in July and August last year, crews from Brackenfell fire station were attacked while travelling on Old Paarl Road near Wallacedene. In both cases the fire vehicles were thrown with stones.
In several incidents windscreens and passenger windows were hit with firemen narrowly escaping injury or sustaining minor injuries not requiring hospitalisation. Among key interventions taken according to Schnetler, trauma counselling was made available for staff members.
“A total of 44 assessments were conducted during which about 90 staff members were assisted internally through the counselling process,” he says.
“While the report highlights the number and detail of the attacks fire fighters have experienced while performing their duties, it does not reflect the full extent of the effect these kinds of attacks have on them,” he says.
Schnetler added that some of the firemen had suffered at the hands of criminals, causing mental anguish that can result in latent trauma which could decline the offer of trauma counselling.
“That our staff are being harassed, attacked and verbally assaulted is a matter of great concern. In addition to the physical and mental harm caused, these incidents create a service delivery problem because they have a direct impact on the number of staff being on duty when affected staff are deemed to be unfit for a period of time.”
He further said the damage to the vehicles create an unnecessary burden on the vehicle fleet, budget as well as service delivery. Furthermore, due to procurement procedures, these damaged vehicles are out of service for long periods of time.
