The
Gauteng Disaster Management Centre in partnership with the South African Red
Cross Society and Santam Insurance have launched the Smoke Detector Pilot
Project in Stwetla and Vukani informal settlement in Alexandra. Addressing the
community during the launch, MEC for the Department of Cooperative Governance,
Traditional Affairs and Planning and Human Settlements, Mr Lebegang Maile, requested
residents to safe guard the smoke detectors and not to damage or steal them.
Fire
prevention in informal settlements around the province are a priority for the
provincial disaster management centre, hence the partnership that has led to the
purchase and installation of one thousand fire detectors. The benefits of this
project are that: fire detectors sense smoke or heat and signal an alarm when
triggered, prompting the evacuation of people and preventing the potential loss
of lives and destruction of properties; and that the project will train forty local
red cross volunteers to be champions of the project.
The
Head of Gauteng Disaster Management Centre, Dr Elias Sithole stated that the
project is only getting started in Alexandra, the intention is to roll it out
in all the informal settlements around the province.  

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