On the 15th of April 2015 the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Pravin Gordhan, thanked fire fighters for their excellent services rendered during the devastating veld fires in the Western Cape fire season.

“The work of the fire fighters from the Department of Environmental Affairs’ Working on Fire programme has been widely applauded and appreciated by all in government and I want to once again extend our gratitude and thanks for all your hard work”, Minister Gordhan told WoFire News.

Minister Gordhan was speaking at the “Thanks Giving Ceremony” for fire fighters from various organisations which were hosted by the National Disaster Management Centre at the Good Hope Centre in Cape Town.

All fire fighters and aerial fire fighters that were involved in fighting fires all over the province received certificates from Minister Gordhan which were handed over to the respective fire service agencies.

Western Cape Ground Operations Manager, Gerhard van Niekerk, received the certificates from Minister Gordhan on behalf of Working on Fire fire fighters. Minster Gordhan also met with the fire fighters from Working on Fire and he encouraged them to learn and develop their skills. “You must ensure that you use this opportunity in this successful Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) to develop your skills further and in this way go into the formal employment sector”, he said.