2. The Sandton Fire Department
Sandton is a vast residential and business town just a few kilometers north of the Johannesburg city centre (central business district, CBD) in the Gauteng province of South Africa. When established on the 1st of July 1969 Sandton was very much a residential area made up of a few suburbs of mainly small holdings. Little did the first town clerk , Bob Louttit, and first mayor, Alec Tweedale, know that Sandton would arguably become the economic hub of South Africa by the turn of the century.
Much
has changed since those early days. Today the Municipality of Sandton no longer
exists in it's old form - after South Africa's first democratic elections in
1994 all of the municipalities in greater Johannesburg were combined to form the
Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan Council (GJMC). This meant that the
municipalities of Johannesburg, Randburg, Roodepoort and Sandton were all
amalgamated to form one single, centrally administrated municipal area. Having
completed the transition phase, from 2001 the GJMC became one official
"mega-city" and is now known as the City of Johannesburg.
There
is much debate within the community and even national government as to whether
the amalgamation of all of the old municipal areas was a sound economic and
management move. Although Sandton has been forced to loose much of it’s
individuality, Sandtonians are proud of our town’s heritage and prosperity.
Early Hominids and the Early Stone Age
Evidence
of early man (Australopithecus africanus, southern ape-man) has been
found in cave sites near Sandton. This southern-ape man was the first to walk
upright and to resemble modern man. About 2.3 million years ago evidence
suggests that this ape-man was replaced by homo habilis (the ‘handy
man’) – the start of the Stone Age. About 1 million years ago a descendant
of ‘handy man’, homo erectus wandered through Sandton. His control
and use of fire was vital to the development of human life.
The
first real residents of Sandton settled in the area approximately 30,000 years
ago, when Middle Stone Age hunters established themselves on the granite hills
of Witkoppen Tor (Fourways Gardens), Lone Hill and Norscot Koppies. These three
sites and have been extensively excavated and have yielded impressive finds.
With
the perennial watercourses of the 3 north flowing streams (the Klein Jukskei,
Sand Spruit and Braamfontein Spruit) the area was able to support a large
wildlife population and species such as kudu, impala, steenbok, dassies, and
even lion and leopard roamed what are now the luxuriant gardens of suburbs such
as Bryanston and Morningside.
Late Stone Age and Iron Age
About
10,000 years ago (Late Stone Age) another group of hunter-gatherers, ancestors
of the modern San (or bushman), moved into the area. But Sandton’s precolonial
fame rests on its Iron Age heritage. Iron Age Bantu-speaking communities
probably evicted the old Stone Age dwellers form the area around 1500-1600.
Archaeological evidence suggests that these Iron Age residents were ancestors of
the Hurutshe and thus in the lineage of the modern Sotho-Tswana people.
It
is thought that these Iron Age residents fled the area during the “Difaqane”.
The Difaqane began in the Kwazulu-Natal province along the eastern coast of
South Africa when Zulu expansion led to the dispersal of several large Nguni
clans. Mzilikazi was the leader of one. His flight to the Gauteng area set in
motion a chain reaction of raiding and counter-raiding, of brutal subjugation
and conquest among these communities. The Tswana group suffered greatly; they
were split up, their traditions destroyed and ultimately they became Ndebele
vassals. Mzilikazi’s kingdom, with its headquarters in the north of Sandton,
was immensely powerful for some decades. In time it was weakened by invasions of
the Griqua, Korana, Zulu and white Voortrekkers.
Farmers and Small Holders
The
first white settlers in Sandton were not industrialists like the Bantu-speakers
who preceded them, but farmers who left the then Cape Colony (Western Cape
province) in organized groups in the mide-1830s in order to liberate themselves
from British rule. The real thrust of white immigration into Gauteng began after
Kwazulu-Natal was annexed by the British in 1843.
The
Voortrekkers of Sandton were initially placed under the rule of the Pretoria
landdrost or magistrate. The municipal area of Sandton is made up of parts of
five Voortrekker freehold farms. The farms were laid out as follows :
Sandton
derives it’s name from Zandfontein – an English simplification of this
Afrikaans name. A memorial stone on the graves of the Esterhuysen Voortrekker
family (of the Zandfontein farm) still stands in the suburb of Strathavon (off
South Rd).
The
discovery of the rich gold bearing reef south of the Johannesburg CBD in 1886
brought many changes to Sandton. Land values increased and the old farms were
subdivided and sold to developers. Economic opportunities arose and many of
these small holdings supplied fresh produce to the goldfields.
Alexandra
The
Alexandra township borders Sandton on the east (between the M1 and N3 highways).
Initially aimed at the white market in 1905, Alexandra – named after the wife
of the developer, HB Papenfus – did not attract buyers because of the small
size of the stands. In about 1912 Papenfus began to sell the land to blacks who
were streaming into Johannesburg to seek employment. Under the Hertzog
government (circa 1924), freehold sales to blacks were curtailed, and Alexandra
became over-crowded and with a tenant population, often renting from
unscrupulous landlords. In the 1930s Alexandra was administered by a Health
Committee which had limited powers, and was not able to prevent the emergence of
an urban slum. While Sandton became populated with generally well-off white
people, very close by was growing an enormous working class population which had
a completely different lifestyle characterized generally by poverty and
deprivation. Although providing much of the labour on which Sandton depended,
Alexandra was always an entity distinct from Sandton. Segregationist attitudes
and legislation – and later Apartheid – precluded any sense of community
from developing among the residents of these Sandton and Alexandra, although, in
the economic sphere, they were closely linked.
Sandton
covers an area of approximately 156 km2 while Alexandra is just under
4 km2. It is estimated that the population of Alexandra is the same
as that of Sandton itself.
Development of the Sandton CBD
The
Sandton Town Council formally ended Sandton’s rural phase in 1979. The Council
took a “more positive attitude towards development”. The rural ‘horsey’
lifestyle of Sandton gave it the image of being a ‘smart address’ : it was
dubbed the ‘mink and manure’ belt of Johannesburg. These qualities proved
very attractive and a new wave of residents came to Sandton. Development
happened quickly, for the wide open spaces were a property developer’s
paradise. Sandton became richer and larger and consequently yielded more power
in local government. Today Sandton is indeed a powerful town – with the
continued decentralization of many companies from the Johannesburg CBD to the
attractive leafy Sandton CBD it continues to grow ever-more powerful. The
prestigious Sandton City shopping mall opened in 1973; it was the first
‘modern shopping mall’ in South Africa.
In
1994 47 of South Africa’s top 300 companies had their national head quarters
in Sandton – this figure has now increased substantially.
The
powerhouse of the South African economy, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange
relocated to Sandton in 2000. Investec, Nedcor, MTN, South African Breweries,
Rand Merchant Bank and Didata are but a few of the major corporations who are
now established in Sandton.
Tourism
too plays a major role in Sandton; with a wide range of luxury hotels and
excellent facilities in the area international visitors flock to the town; using
Sandton as a base from which to explore the wonders of South Africa. Sandton
also boasts world class conference facilities.
2.
The
Sandton Fire Department
In
1966 Mr John Pryce, a Sandown resident who had battled for years for ambulance
and fire brigade services for the area, heard that Johannesburg City Council had
an outmoded fire engine for sale. Mr Pryce paid R200 for the fire engine which
was in bits and pieces. From this modest beginning, the then Sandton Emergency
Services evolved.
Before
amalgamation the Sandton Emergency Services had 2 fire stations - in Lonehill
and Sandown. These 2 stations were responsible for supplying emergency medical
care and fire & rescue services to the approximate 1 million people living
in Sandton and Alexandra. A temporary sub-fire station was later established in
Alexandra. The Alexandra fire station has now moved into permanent premises in
the centre of Alex.
Stations
15, 16 and 23 (Sandown, Lonehill and Alexandra) continue to serve it's residents
with the highest level of professionalism possible at the present time.
The old Sandton Emergency Services were always forerunners in the field of emergency care and services, as the following newspaper articles reflect. Sandton was always looked upon with envy and respect for the innovative and bold steps they took in protecting it's citizens and their property. Although things have undeniably changed since amalgamation into the GJMC; station 15 continues to maintain a pace far ahead of the pack.
Sandton's
Fire Department has bought the new "Jaws of Life" a hydraulically
operated power tool which can open up a crushed car in seconds. The acting
fire chief for Sandton, Mr J McMullin, said yesterday : "This piece of
equipment has cost us about R4000, but we can't do without it.
"Already it has saved the life of one accident victim, who was trapped in
his crushed car. We used to struggle desperately in these situations, but now
we can have the victim freed within seconds."
The emergency tool looks similar to a pair of scissors, and is hydraulically
operated by two motors. It weighs 60kg, and can be operated by one man.
Besides being able to exert fantastic pressure - to raise the roof of a
crushed car - the tool is able to cut through metal when its cutting edges are
used.
This equipment comes from America and already a number of South African
emergency departments are using it.
Sandton
Fire Brigade has entered a new era of call-dispatching with the introduction
of computer equipment which will ultimately replace manual systems entirely.
A computer-controlled console dispatches men and machines to crisis areas. The
fire brigade has installed a Mentor Model 3000 multi-user machine supporting
five terminals and three printers, as well as a Remrad system connecting
remote stations to the control room by radio signal.
Sysman supplied the hardware and Emergency Services System software developed
by the the company for retail.
According to Sandton deputy Chief Fire Officer, Mr Pine Pienaar, the ESS
package can provide information on emergency services within seconds, a
process that usually takes much longer when done manually.
"If a tanker crashes and there is no indication as to its contents, we
can determine what the chemical could be by describing its colour, smell and
other characteristics to the computer," says Mr Pienaar.
He says the fire brigade has used the system on a number of occasions.
Chemical identification is only one of the new system's applications.
As soon as a call reaches the fire brigade, it distinguishes between ambulance
or fire calls, and prompts the operator to determine what vehicles are
available and are best suited for the particular incident.
The operator then selects a crew, who are paged by computer.
"If required, a map of the area can be printed and the fire crew can
study it on their way, determining whether it is an industrial or commercial
area and if there is water available."
Sandton Fire Brigade records more than 6000 calls a year for ambulances, and
2000 for fire-fighters; the service covers an area of 144 sq km.
Mr Pienaar says Sandton runs the busiest fire station in the country.
Other applications of the system relate to accounts, records of calls,
personnel databases, general administration, payroll, stores, water and civil
defence.
This system has now been installed by seven municipalities.
Most
shopping centre fires start in restaurants but the Sandton Fire Department,
one of the most progressive in the country, is fully equipped to handle any
situation.
Sandton is different in that it is the only fire station in the country to use
the American "truck and engine" method of fire fighting.
According to a spokesman, most fire stations use the British fire fighting
method where one vehicle and four crew members are sent out to structural
fires.
At the scene of the fire, crew members are given specific tasks to do.
With the American system, two vehicles with separate crews are dispatched - a
truck which contains the snorkel and hydraulic platform and the engine which
serves as a pumper.
The crew for each is specifically trained in his duties and each knows exactly
what task to perform when arriving at the scene of a fire.
The American method also uses positive pressure ventilation. Buildings are
pressurized with air which is pumped through openings such as doors or
windows.
This reduces heat, improves visibility and doesn't fan the fire.
The "truck" crew members effect rescue operations, search for
victims, forcibly enter premises, do the laddering, ventilation and salvage
and open the pathway to the fire for the engine.
Crew members operate chainsaws and crowbars - this is the most dangerous
aspect of the job.
The "engine" which consists of the pumper crew, connects the water
supply, hoses and effects the fire fighting.
The American method of fire fighting is more aggressive. Firemen go into the
fire - they don't squirt water through windows. They use minimum water to
cause less water damage. The Sandton Fire Station is also equipped for riot
fire fighting, urban violence and traffic incident protection.
The
volunteers working out of station 15 form an integral part of the emergency
services provided in the Sandton-Alex area. With present permanent staff
shortages and other budgetary constraints the volunteers are often relied on to
ensure effective emergency medical and fire-fighting/rescue services are
available to residents.
Approximately
60 men and woman presently make up our volunteer force - far exceeding the other
volunteer forces working in the central Johannesburg, Randburg and Roodepoort
areas.
These
volunteers are all professionally trained and receive absolutely no remuneration
or rewards whatsoever. In fact volunteers are required to provide much of their
training and equipment at their own cost (!!).
Many
are often surprised to find out that our volunteers are ordinary men and woman
from the community; seldom professionally involved in the medical or rescue
fields. Our force is made up of students, engineers, lawyers, accountants,
entrepreneurs, financial managers, IT consultants, amongst many other
professions.
Volunteers
perform exactly the same function as permanent force members - they're not there
as a secondary service but are involved in providing front line functions. We
man ambulances, fire engines and rescue vehicles with complete volunteer crews.
The level of professionalism and competence is outstanding - as one would
expect.