Mayor Plato and Councillor Herron Honour's City Park Staff for Saving Children from Blaze | Western Cape Government

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Mayor Plato and Councillor Herron Honour's City Park Staff for Saving Children from Blaze

20 July 2010

Tomorrow, 22 July, the Executive Mayor, Alderman Dan Plato and the Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services, Councillor Brett Herron, will host a tea to honour a group of City Parks' staff members who acted bravely and succeeded in saving two children from a burning house.

On 01 July, at about 11:00, the City Parks mowing team was working at Summerplace Park in Mandalay. They noticed smoke coming from a nearby house and immediately went to investigate. The house was already ablaze both inside and outside, and they heard children screaming for help.

City staff member Gavin Green used the emergency button on his radio to call for help, while Jerome Gordon, Geremy Beukes and John Steyn broke down the security gate to gain entry to the house. Inside they found two children in separate rooms with burn wounds. They brought them safely out of the house where they waited for the ambulance and Fire Services who arrived shortly afterwards. Meanwhile, Peter Plaatjies had begun extinguishing the fire himself with a hose pipe.

"We are extremely proud of these staff members who truly went above and beyond the call of duty. I look forward to honouring them, and thanking them personally for their dedication," said Mayor Plato.

"If it were not for the brave and swift actions of these staff members, the children may have suffered serious injury or even death. Their selfless act saved the children, and we are very grateful to them for this," said Councillor Herron.

Date: Thursday 22 July

Time: 15:00 - 15:30

Venue: Mayor's Dining Room, Sixth Floor, Podium Block, Civic Centre, Cape Town

All media are welcome to attend. This function will provide an excellent photo opportunity.

Issued by:
Communication Department
City of Cape Town

Media Enquiries: 

Councillor Brett Herron
Mayoral Committee Member
Community Services
Tel: 021 400 1298
Cell: 082 518 3264