Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality said it has launched an internal investigation after pictures emerged of DA mayoral candidate, Athol Trollip, using a firehose at the scene of a house fire in the northern areas over the weekend.
Mayoral Committee member, Fikile Desi, said the Metro cannot allow a situation where professional fire fighters could have been impeded in the execution of their duties.
He said "the investigation is of critical importance as the city cannot allow a situation where professional firemen and -women could have been impeded during the execution of their duties."
"The suggestion that the officials needed help could also send the wrong message as the team deployed to deal with the emergency was sufficient and if help was required reinforcements would have been called for from one of the closest fire stations," Desi said.
"Three rescue pumps with crews of at least four professionals per vehicle were dispatched to a house in the Port Elizabeth suburb Windvogel at 14:59 on Saturday."
"Clarity is now sought if the Fire Brigade Services Act was transgressed as members of the public could easily emulate Mr Trollip's actions by attempting to extinguish a fire without protective clothing and the relevant training while professional men and women are at the scene."
"The critical question how Mr Trollip managed to get a fire hose to pose for a photo session while flames and smoke are still clearly visible on the publicity pictures must now be answered, "said Desi.
Reacting to the Municipality’s statement, DA councillor, Sandra Fillis issued the following statement Tuesday.
“The DA was the first to arrive on scene, having deviated from the campaign trail after big plumes of smoke were seen from Standford Road, and immediately began assisting by calling the fire department, by dousing the flames and removing personal items. As a caring Bay resident, Athol acted instinctively by dousing the flames firstly with buckets of water, and then with a hose found lying on the ground nearby.”
“When lives are at risk, the more hands that can help, the better. When crisis strikes, caring leaders always jump in to help the community, which is exactly what Athol, myself and many others did. It is preposterous that any help or assistance at a time of crisis could be turned into a political campaign as we are seeing with this internal investigation.”
This weekend the DA said that "while driving back from an event in Cleary Park, we noticed a house burning in Windvogel, near the Main Road. We were the first to arrive, and assisted residents with getting as many belongings out as possible."
"Athol Trollip assisted firefighters, who arrived shortly thereafter, where necessary to ensure that the blaze was doused," the DA said.
