Question NW1845 to the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
03 September 2021 - NW1845
Graham, Ms SJ to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
1. What is the additional training required to progress to (a) Crew Leader, (b) Base Manager and (c) Regional Manager within the Working on Fire programme (WOF); 2. what is the stipend and/or salary paid to (a) Crew Leaders, (b) Base Managers and (c) Regional Managers in the WOF; 3. what is the (a) average length of service of a WOF firefighter if they do not progress within the programme and (b) total number of new recruits that are trained each year; 4. what is the maximum number of firefighters that the programme will cater for?
Reply:
1(a)(i) Crew Leader Type 2: the incumbent must have Fire Fighter training, one (1) year experience, completed and passed a Crew Leader Type 2 training programme.
(a)(ii) Crew Leader Type 1: the incumbent must have Fire Fighter training, two (2) years of experience, Crew Leader Type 2 training, completed and passed Crew Leader Type 1 training programme.
b). Base Manager: they are normally recruited from Crew Leader Type 1 group, dependent on the needs of the Working on Fire (WoF) Programme and Partner (A partner can be an Entity, namely South African National Parks (SANParks), Municipality, or Landowner).
c) Regional Manager: all Type 1 Crew Leaders are eligible to apply for a Regional Manager position if and when required, through normal transparent recruitment processes.
2(a)(i) Crew Leader Type 2 = R246.95 per day
(a)(ii) Crew Leader Type 1 = R303.65 per day
b) Base Manager = R385.00 per day
c) Regional Manager= R16 500.00 per month
3(a) The WoF Programme has an annual turnover of approximately 100/ of Fire Fighters, so roughly 450 of the current 4 500 on average employed per year. The average length of service ranges from 2-5 years.
(b) The total number of new recruits trained every year is dependent on turnover as well as budget availability.
4. The number of Fire Fighters recruited is dependent on budget availability. An increased budget can cater for more Fire Fighters. Presently, the WoF Programme has around 4 500 Fire fighters.
Regards
MS B D CREECY, MP
MINISTER OF FORESTRY, FISHERIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT
DATE: .31/08/2021