The FF Plus’ Armand Cloete, a member of the Free State Legislature (MPL), has in a letter directed to Mkhwebane revealed that the much-needed fire station, believed to have cost millions, was unveiled in 2015 by the debt-ridden Matjhabeng Local Municipality. It has since then remained unused, despite statements by the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC, Thembeni Nxangisa, in late June 2021 promising otherwise.  

Cloete’s complaint, oversight visits and queries posed during legislature sittings come two years after OFM News reported that the building was prone to be vandalised by criminals in search of cables and other building materials because it was empty and unused.

READ MORE: Matjhabeng fire station unused, years since completion

Matjhabeng spokesperson, Kgojane Matutle, said at the time that the station would be reopened as soon as renovations were completed and implied that the date was soon. However, Cloete’s oversight visits in April and September 2021, respectively, revealed that nothing had changed since Nxangisa vowed the project would be completed by the end of July and a recruitment process for vacant posts was near completion. It remains unknown what is causing the delay. Nxangisa did assure residents in that sitting that security had been beefed up at the facility.

READ MORE: Injured transported to hospital following FS veldfires

This past weekend veld fires broke out next to the busy N1 route between Winburg and Ventersburg, as well as in the areas of Dewetsdorp, Thaba 'Nchu, and Ficksburg. The Aldam Resort and Willem Pretorius Nature Reserve outside Ventersburg were badly affected with several chalets damaged and land inside the two reserves destroyed by the fire. Cloete says residents and members of the farming community have informed him that, had the Mmamahabane Fire Station been operational, the devastation could have been limited. The exact value of the station is not confirmed, but reports allege it runs into the millions. This has not been confirmed by Matjhabeng.

OFM News