The Sarah Baartman District Municipality (SBDM), in collaboration with Kouga Municipality, non-profit organisation, Masikhathalelaneni, Sarah Baartman West Fire Prevention Association, and Working on Fire, hosted a successful Risk Reduction Education and Awareness Event on March 13 in Sea Vista, St Francis Bay.
The event was also attended and supported by Amandla Omoya Trust, Eskom, the Department of Community Safety, and the Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism.
Athenkosi Diniso, SBDM Portfolio Councillor for Community Services and Infrastructure Development, said the initiative was aimed at addressing multi-hazard risks in Sea Vista, an area highly susceptible to fires and floods.
“The event formed part of SBDM’s commitment to making disaster and fire services more proactive rather than reactive,” said Diniso.
To further support disaster relief efforts, he said that SBDM has a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Masikhathalelaneni to provide emergency relief materials to fire and disaster victims.
Diniso said that the organisation has also introduced the use of “fireballs” – a self-activating fire suppression device that activates within three to seven seconds upon contact with a naked flame.
“This innovative tool is particularly effective in informal settlement areas where fire risks are heightened,” said Diniso.
He further said that Amandla Omoya Trust has pledged its continued support to Masikhathalelaneni to ensure rapid disaster relief services.
The Trust has also committed R2 million in disaster relief funding should a disaster be declared in the Kouga area.
At the event, SBDM handed over 88 fireballs to Kouga Municipality, represented by Ward 1 Councillor, Nozuko Ntshota.
As previously reported, Masikhathalelaneni was initially established in 2017 by Freddie van Rooyen to assist community members who have been affected by fires, floods, and other related disasters.
To address the growing concern of rapid-spreading shack fires in the region, the organisation launched the Fire Ball Outreach Project, joined by Sarah Baartman District Municipality Executive Mayor, Deon de Vos, in 2024.
The project seeks to empower the community with the tools and skills needed to combat fires effectively.
Van Rooyen said that he initially purchased the first few fireballs with money from his pocket and has continued to encourage municipalities and businesses to buy into the initiative.
He said that he is thankful that Amandla Omoya Trust and the SBDM have bought into his initiative, which has enabled them to distribute a total of 189 fireballs to specific community leaders throughout Kouga who are sober-minded and can react quickly.
The towns that have received fireballs are Jeffreys Bay, Loerie, Patensie, Humansdorp, and St Francis Bay (Sea Vista).
These fireballs have been placed at strategic points within the community.
“I believe in the fireballs, especially after testing it for myself, and it works effectively. Buying into my initiative means a lot to me and it is a dream come true,” said Van Rooyen.
He said that the fireball minimises the risk of fires spreading to other shacks, especially in Sea Vista, which has been identified as a hotspot area for fire disasters.
Van Rooyen said that the fireball, powered by safe and reliable lithium, is designed to be activated when it encounters open flames. Upon activation, the fireball rapidly disperses the fire, effectively acting as a fire extinguisher that can suppress and contain the blaze within seconds.
“When fire breaks out in informal settlements, it quickly spreads and between 13 and 20 shacks can be burned down, but if the fireball is used, it stops the fire in its tracks and the fire does not spread,” said Van Rooyen.
Speaking after the Risk Reduction Education and Awareness Event, he said that he commends the SBDM for bringing multiple stakeholders together to host the event.
“When I first began promoting this initiative, I believed that it would be the solution we need to deal with fires. I believe that this initiative will expand throughout the Eastern Cape and throughout South Africa’s poorest communities who desperately need assistance with fire disasters,” said Van Rooyen.
Residents are strongly encouraged to save emergency numbers such as 112 or the Sarah Baartman District Disaster Toll-Free number 0800 222 238 for quick access in the event of an emergency.
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