Pretoria, South Africa – The City of Tshwane, in a joint effort with the South African Red Cross Society (SARCS), has installed 500 smoke detectors in a fire-prone informal settlement east of Pretoria to mitigate the risk of devastating blazes.
The initiative, launched at the Kameeldrift informal settlement, follows a particularly high number of incidents, with more than 1,100 fires recorded in the last financial year alone. The project aims to reduce the vulnerability of households and protect residents from fire-related emergencies.
The city’s deputy executive mayor, Eugene Modise, led the launch alongside a team of officials and representatives from the Red Cross, which donated the devices.
According to Nana Radebe-Kgiba, a public liaison officer for the city, the effort is part of a broader educational campaign to equip residents with the knowledge to identify and reduce fire risks. The program not only provides essential safety equipment but also empowers the community with practical skills to respond to emergencies.