BUFFALO CITY METRO FIRE AND RESCUE FIREFIGHTERS SELECTED FOR SWIFT WATER RESCUE PROGRAMME
Strengthening emergency response capacity and disaster resilience in the Eastern Cape Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) Fire and Rescue Department is proud to announce the selection of three of its firefighters to participate in the Swift Water Res-cue Programme, taking place from 22 to 30 October 2026 in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape.
The selected firefighters, T. Majambe, T. Makaba and M. Madlavu, will join approximately 30 other emergency services personnel from across the Eastern Cape for this specialised training initiative. Their selection represents an important step towards strengthening the department’s capacity to respond to flood related emergencies and water rescue incidents.
The programme is facilitated by Rescue South Africa, with generous support from the Standard Bank Group, as part of a broader disaster resilience project aimed at enhancing professional and community-based disaster response ca-pabilities in high risk flood regions of South Africa. The primary purpose of the Swift Water Rescue Programme is to equip professional first responders with the essential knowledge, technical skills and practical experience required to operate safely and effectively in fast-flowing water environments. Participants will receive intensive, hands-on training in swift water rescue tech-niques, with an emphasis on operational safety, risk assessment, rescue preparedness and effective incident response. This training is particularly important for communities vulnerable to flooding, where rising water levels and strong currents can pose significant risks to human life, property and infrastructure. By strengthening the skills of emergency personnel, the programme aims to improve rescue operations, enhance inter-agency coordina-tion and contribute to safer, more resilient communities throughout the Eastern Cape.
The Eastern Cape Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (ECCOGTA) plays an im-portant role in supporting disaster management and resilience initiatives across the province. Through its dis-aster management mandate and collaboration with municipalities and emergency response stakeholders, EC COGTA contributes to strengthening preparedness, coordination and response capacity for disasters, includ-ing flood-related incidents. Initiatives such as this programme support the broader provincial objective of build-ing a coordinated and effective disaster response system.
The Buffalo City Metro Fire and Rescue Department congratulates T. Majambe, T. Makaba and M. Madlavu on their selection and commends their commitment to professional development and public service. The knowledge and practical experience gained through this programme will contribute to strengthening the department’s operational readiness and its ability to protect lives during water related emergencies.
#BuildingSkills #StrengtheningPartnerships.
#SavingLives. #Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality #Fire and Rescue Department
2026-10-27