The Working on Fire (WOF) – Kishugu Joint Venture management team, led by Managing Director Trevor Abrahams, Deputy Managing Director Megon Norman, Kishugu Aviation CEO Emile Grobbelaar, and Stakeholder Relations Manager Linton Rensburg, conducted a productive briefing with Western Cape government officials today. The Western Cape Government was represented by MEC Anton Bredell of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Graham Paulse, Head of Department of Local Government, Colin Deiner, Head of Western Cape Disaster Management, and Etienne Du Toit, Western Cape PDMC Fire and Rescue Services.
The briefing focused on the Working on Fire operations in the Western Cape and the aerial firefighting strategies for the upcoming Summer Fire Season. Abrahams emphasized the growing impact of climate change on natural disasters, including wildfires, and praised the successful partnership with the Western Cape government.
“Our collaboration with the province has proven effective due to meticulous planning and preparation before each wildfire season,”
Abrahams noted. He highlighted the deployment of approximately 800 firefighters stationed at 36 bases across the Western Cape, reinforcing the longstanding success of the WOF programme.
Kishugu Aviation CEO Emile Grobbelaar outlined the aerial firefighting resources available for the upcoming season and stressed the need for further discussions with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE) to streamline the deployment of aerial resources.
“We are confident that through continued collaboration with key stakeholders, including the DFFE and the Western Cape Provincial Disaster Management Centre, we will address any potential challenges in deploying aerial resources effectively,” Grobbelaar stated.
MEC Bredell expressed gratitude for the briefing and acknowledged the vital role of the WOF-Kishugu Joint Venture in preparing for and managing wildfire risks in the region.
The briefing underscored the importance of continued partnership and proactive measures in safeguarding the Western Cape from the impacts of wildfires.
