With regard to “Tragic loss of youngster’s life”, on page 1 of the Roodepoort Record of Friday 20 April, in particular the phrase, “I tried to douse the fire with a bucket and water because the fire hose at the front of the building was not working …” It appears as if point 16 of the by-laws quoted below was not adhered to.
City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality Emergency Services By-laws:
Installation and maintenance of fire-fighting equipment
16. (1) Every owner of a building must ensure that–
(a) all fire-fighting equipment and service installations on the premises are installed in a manner and condition ready for use in an emergency;
(b) all portable and mobile fire-extinguishers and all hose reels on the premises are serviced and maintained in accordance with SABS 0105 and SABS 1475;
(c) all fire-fighting equipment and service installations on the premises are–
(i) maintained in a good working condition by a competent person;
(ii) inspected and serviced in accordance with manufacturer specifications; and
(iii) are inspected by an appropriately registered and competent person at least once every 12 months;
Offences and penalties
By-laws apply within the area of jurisdiction of the Joburg City Council and in addition to any applicable national or provincial law.
Any person who:
· Contravenes or fails to comply with any provision of these by-laws;
· Fails to comply with any notice issued or displayed in terms of these by-laws;
· Fails to comply with any lawful instruction given in terms of these by-laws;
· Obstructs, hinders, or improperly influences or attempts to do so, any authorised representative or employee of the Council in the execution of his or her duties or performance of his or her powers or functions under these by-laws, is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine or in default of payment to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months, and in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding R50, or in default of payment, to imprisonment not exceeding one day, for every day during the continuance of such offence, after a written notice has been issued by the Council, and served on the person concerned, requesting the discontinuance of such offence.
I find it sad that essential by-laws, such as the one above, appear to be disregarded.
Dr Thomas Groenewald (DPhil)
Specialist/Process Manager: Experiential Learning
Directorate Instructional Support & Services (DISS)
Department: Tuition Support and Faciliatation of Learning (DTSFL)
Tel: 011 471 3095
E-mail: tgroenew@unisa.ac.za
Room 00-076, NB Pityana building, Unisa Science campus (Florida)
https://staff.unisa.ac.za/WIL
https://www.unisa.ac.za
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