LIMPOPO resident Lucy Mannatsa was confronted with the challenge facing many youths completing her matric – she had no financial means to continue with her studies.
Also, the high youth unemployment rate in the country meant there were hardly any job opportunities in her area of Tzaneen where she was born and raised.
But fortunately Mannatsa eventually heard about the Working on Fire programme through a representative of the Mopani local municipality.
The Working on Fire is an expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) that is aimed at providing work opportunities to young men and women. The programme was launched in September 2003 as part of government’s initiative to create jobs and alleviate poverty.
The programme resides under and is funded by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. Participants are recruited from marginalised communities and trained in fire awareness and education, fire prevention and fire suppression skills. In addition, they are also trained in skills such as first aid, carpentry, cooking, health and safety and communications.
There are currently more than 5000 participants in the programme, 94% of whom are youth, 31% are women and 3% are people with disabilities. The programme seeks out and trains young people from all regions of South Africa, with a heavy emphasis on underrepresented groups and individuals with disabilities.
Initially, Mannatsa dreamt of being a magistrate, but that all changed after she joined the firefighting programme. In 2007 she was transferred to Graskop Base while she was serving as a crew leader at the base she was recruited for. She later became a structural firefighter and thereafter an assistant regional manager in the Mpumalanga provincial office.
A few years later, in 2012, to be precise, she joined the emergency services team at the Tzaneen Fire Station. In 2013, she scored herself an opportunity at Maruleng Fire Station. Mannatsa, who joined the programme in 2004 is now the acting leading firefighter for Maruleng Fire Station and a former crew leader type 2 for WOF at Limpopo Sekororo Base.
Ofentse Letswalo, the WOF’s provincial communications officer in Limpopo said the programme has so far restored dignity to over 700 participants from the previous year, all from previously disadvantaged backgrounds.
“These participants are professionally trained to become veld and forest firefighters stationed at 25 bases. Over 300 of these firefighters exited the programme to take up full-time employment in various public and private sectors, namely, SAPS, SANParks, Platinum Mine, and other government spheres,” said Letswalo.
These firefighters are dispatched to help with the management of wildfires both locally and internationally. They raise fire awareness by proactively implementing prevention measures, participating in suppression operations, and restoring burned-out regions. Working on Fire Limpopo employs a total of 215 female participants who are trained to become veld and forest firefighters to prepare them for permanent employment in both private and public sectors.
WOF Limpopo comprises 14 women who form part of the management staff in the province. The majority of them joined as firefighters through recruitment drives and managed to move up ranks within the programme.
The newly appointed receptionist for Working on Fire Limpopo, Pleasure Mahlong, joined the programme as a veld and forest Firefighter through a recruitment drive in September 2014 and was stationed at Aganang Base.
Prior to joining WOF, she acquired an N4 Certificate in Human Resource Management and worked in the private sector as a cashier.
In February 2019 Mahlong had to put her corporate life to a pause to pursue her studies at the University of Limpopo where she obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Sciences, majoring in International Relations. – news@mukurukuru.co.za
What are the characteristics needed to become a firefighter?
- Firstly you have to be passionate about wanting to help people and the salary you get should be a secondary consideration.
- If you doing this for the money you are mistaken as a firefighters job is serving mankind.
- You have to be honest and trustworthy since you will be entering houses and business to do your job.
- You should be a problem solver and not panic under server stressful situations.
- You must take the job serious as your life and people’s lives depend on you.
- You should be disciplined and be able to take instruction from your commanding officer.
- Be positive and have a great attitude for life.
- Be humble and strive to help someone in need.
- You should be physical fit as the job is extremely strenuous – source: https://www.arrivealive.mobi/how-do-i-become-a-fire-fighter
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