Abstract
This study focuses on factors that influence the implementation of Fire Brigade Services Act 99 of 1987 in South Africa, with specific reference to the City of Ekurhuleni. The national government is responsible for providing resources in terms of funding and programmes or policy implementation. Notwithstanding, the enormous investment in terms of resources (funding and capacity building programs), municipalities are also responsible for their own the financial preparation and the planning of their budgetary processes. Thus, the study discussed factors that influence failure to efficiently and effectively implement the Fire Brigade Services Act (FBSA) with success in the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE).
The study found that the use of outdated legislation and policies, lack of authority and follow-up, inadequate resources and financial constraints, lack of effective monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and communication, coupled with lack of enough media coverages and research on fire brigade in South Africa’s local municipalities and universities to be the leading factors that influence the failures of FBSA. In addition to the above factors, corruption, lack of adequate training programmes for firefighters in the CoE, failure to understand the effects of fire on social order, security and stability and economic growth seem to be hindering the implementation of the FBSA in South Africa. In an effort to address the above factors and enable the successful implementation of the FBSA, the study recommended there should be strong cooperation between the three spheres of government in South Africa in addressing those factors as to allow the prevention of fires in local municipalities to destroy properties and kill people. The study also recommended that there should be more training programmes and schools established in every municipality that offer fire brigade trainings to firefighters. There should also be civic education that gives awareness to the public and educates them about the effects of fire on their livelihoods, social order and security. The study also recommended that there should be an amendment of FBSA, and the establishment of effective authority structures that assist in following-up process. Above all the study recommended that there should be strong systematic M&E processes in the CoE, and this would depend on the allocation of adequate resources to the fire department in the CoE. The study further recommended that there should be additional studies on the effects of fire incidents on economic growth and sustainable development. To achieve the above assertions and findings, a qualitative research design with exploratory and explanatory approaches were adopted. The study relied on policy documents, literature review of secondary data that included a review of key documents (specific reports on local government performance regarding fire services), and primary data that was collected from the interviews with the participants.