Just another old day in SA

IT seems that the upholding of law and order will forever elude us.

I say this in response to your article ‘Firefighters flee for their lives’ in Thursday’s paper.

It is ludicrous that when the Rural Metro firefighters responded to a reported fire in the eShobeni area – it is, after all, their job to attend to this – they get set upon by the local community and are forced to flee to safety while the fire truck and equipment are torched.

At first glance this kind of behaviour is beyond comprehension. Why would the very people who the firefighters are trying to help turn on them in a violent manner?

Then, in the last paragraph the true motive becomes clear.

‘It is believed the plantation was deliberately set on fire by the community who want the area to be handed to them as part of a land reform claim’.

This reminds one of the many reported cases in the country where emergency personnel are attacked at scenes when the local community turn to violence when they pursue one or other agenda.

They go into dangerous situations regardless because they are committed to their work, but are unarmed and powerless to defend themselves when attacked.

Have we now reached the stage that the police or even soldier units need to be created to accompany emergency personnel when they go out to attend to incidents where possible conflict may arise?

As with most of these cases, it is also unlikely that intensive investigations will follow and anybody at eShobeni arrested or charged.

Just another day in SA.

CHRIS