City of Cape Town praises fierce firefighting heroes

City of Cape Town MMC for Safety and Security Alderman JP Smith has sent many praises to volunteer firefighters who stopped at nothing to protect properties this festive season.

"And while the sun is giving its last rays over our coast, these volunteers are still at it. With crews from Volunteer Wildfire Services high up on the slopes still, they are going through all the burned vynbos, looking for any burning embers, putting these out so we don't get any nasty surprises through the night," said Smith.

"Crews from their base were deployed immediately, with additional volunteers called from standby, from across our city.

"These crews will only come back down much later tonight. They won't be getting paid for their service, they are all volunteers, every single one of them. They formed their organisation purely for the purpose of good, to help protect our City against the effects of wildfire, to help protect our natural heritage.

"The only way they are able to sustain their efforts, to help cover all their operational costs, is through donations from the public sector.

"To any corporate sponsors out there who are seeking to support a worthy cause, it will be hard to find one better than this. If you have a business and are seeking to give back, consider approaching them. Because every cent received goes straight back into, like with today, helping protect our mountains and helping to sustain their worthy efforts," Smith explained.