The City of Cape Town said its Pinelands sewer depot team went beyond the call of duty last week, after coming across a fire which had broken out in Heideveld on their way back from servicing a blocked sewer in Athlone.
The eight officials immediately sprung into action as first responders and evacuated a family from their burning double-storey home in Heideveld. Among the rescued was a two-month-old baby, stuck in an upstairs bedroom.
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After being forced to leave Athlone unexpectedly, due to a shooting incident, the team saw the house alight as they drove down Klipfontein Road and swiftly decided to assist.
‘Splitting the work for efficiency, some officials supported by evacuating the parents and three young children, then keeping them safely away from danger,’ said the City. ‘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’.
The City also said that the team then used non-potable water from their jet combination truck to put out the fire.
By the time the City’s Fire and Rescue Services arrived on the scene, the fire had already been extinguished.
‘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,’ the City added.
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Councillor Zahid Badroodien, City’s MMC for Water and Sanitation, met with the team to honour the team for their outstanding service, compassion and nimble thinking.
The heroic eight officials are Lee-Roy Sheldon, Gideon Tyman, Naziem De Jager, Verona Joseph, Ismail Boer, Quinton Sakala, Faeeza Malherbe and Claudia Josias.
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Picture: City of Cape Town / Facebook
