Ekurhuleni executive mayor Mzwandile Masina on Wednesday led the ceremonial sodturning where the new R40-million Albertina Sisulu fire station will be built in Kempton Park.
The fire station will be built as part of the R21/Albertina Sisulu development corridor and will be completed in 2018.
“The construction of the fire station will see a total of 110 local job opportunities created for Ekurhuleni residents. We need to prioritise this area in terms of development,” the mayor said.
He added that the Kempton Park fire station could no longer cope with demand for services from the growing community in the city and the surrounding areas.
“It also fits into Ekurhuleni’s aerotropolis master plan in terms of economic development for the city. Given the aerotropolis trajectory, which includes expanding the airport, there is an increased response by developers building along the Albertina Sisulu Corridor,” Masina said.
More than 60 firefighters and emergency services practitioners will work at the new fire stations.
“We are also procuring 21 ambulances that will be made available during this financial year. Over the next financial year, we have set aside an additional R20-million to procure even more ambulances,” he said.