{"id":295045,"date":"2025-12-11T07:59:34","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T05:59:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vrystaatkroon\/tallest-building-no-match-for-firefighters\/"},"modified":"2025-12-11T08:01:40","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T06:01:40","slug":"tallest-building-no-match-for-firefighters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vrystaatkroon\/tallest-building-no-match-for-firefighters\/","title":{"rendered":"Tallest building no match for firefighters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BLOEMFONTEIN<\/strong> – Three members of the Mangaung Fire Department was part of a group of 50 firefighters from accross South Africa who took part in a race up 57 stories of a building in Sandton, Gauteng.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Participants took on the tallest building in the country: The Leonardo, a hotel standing 234m high.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
A total of 50 firefighters took part in a gruelling challenge on 6 December, climbing to the top of the tallest building in South Africa. PHOTO: Supplied<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The extraordinary challenge on 6 December was hosted in celebration of the 50th birthday of Charnaud, safety equipment suppliers.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Russel van Deventer, local firefighter and participant, explains they received specialised gear for the race. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The tallest building in South Africa: the Leonardo hotel in Sandton.
PHOTO: Russel van Deventer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

“The event comprised a timed individual stair climb from the ground level to the top of The Leonardo; wearing their own boots, and receiving bunker trousers and a jacket, firefighting gloves, a helmet, and breathing apparatus with which they participated.”\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Van Deventer completed the event in 22:54 and came 29th out of 50. He was the 27th male; and, at 59 years old, the oldest participant.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other two Mangaung firefighters did very well, with Masabata Shologu being the third woman, in position 32 out of 50 participants. Her time was 23:50. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mmathebehae Tsosane was 9th out of all the women, and 46th out of 50. She finished in 34:48.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Firefighters from across South Africa took part in a challenge to race up the stairs of South Africa’s highest 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tallest building in South Africa: the Leonardo hotel in Sandton. 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