By Lorato Modisenyane.

• Bombani Shelter in Alexandra has received fire detectors and portable solar lights to make the facility safer.
• In addition to the equipment, the staff were also provided with first aid training.
• ⁠The initiative was put together by the Gauteng Department of Social Development and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

The Gauteng Department of Social Development, along with the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, donated fire detectors and portable solar lights to the Bombani Shelter for Abused Women and Children in Alexandra.

A special ceremony was held on 27 August 2025, with the aim of ensuring fire safety compliance. This included the installation of smoke alarms, the distribution of solar lights, and basic first aid training for staff.

The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, through the Provincial Disaster Management Centre, is responsible for fire services in Gauteng.

The department is also responsible for developing and implementing the National Fire Safety Programme, as well as monitoring and evaluating fire services throughout the province.

In addition to its core functions, the Provincial Disaster Management Centre (fire services), through its transformation unit, agreed to collaborate with the Gauteng Department of Social Development to tackle gender-based violence and femicide, through the social crime prevention and victim empowerment programmes.

This year, the Gauteng Department of Social Development recognised the needs of the Bombani Shelter for Abused Women and Children and identified them as one of the recipients to receive support.

Bombani accommodates and caters for abused women and their children and is currently a shelter for 20 beneficiaries.

Addressing the event, the director of social crime prevention and victim empowerment programmes at the Gauteng Department of Social Development, Pearl Moabelo, explained that the initiative was prompted by the challenges brought about by loadshedding, when criminals would take advantage by staging break-ins.

“This initiative is not only about compliance but also about the safety of beneficiaries, as we have been entrusted with their protection,” Moabelo said.

She emphasised the importance of ongoing intervention and collaboration in the fight against gender-based violence, calling on all stakeholders to contribute meaningfully.

Deputy director of fire services in the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Tebogo Photo, noted that the initiative supported the premier’s priorities on gender-based violence and femicide and expressed satisfaction that staff had been empowered with skills in first aid, basic firefighting, and evacuation procedures.

She thanked Santam Insurance for donating the solar lights and smoke detectors, and the City of Johannesburg’s PIER Programme for providing training. The public information, education and relations programme offers pre-incident training and preparedness geared towards training the public to avoid all types of emergencies and disasters.

Board chairperson S Gwebu expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the generous support and pledged to take care of everything that had been provided.

The event concluded with the handover of training certificates to all the staff members.