Firefighters Graduate.
Executive Mayor of the Cape Winelands District Municipality, Ald. (Dr) Elna von Schlicht welcomed guests and graduates. During her address, the mayor praised the Winter Class of 2025’s graduates, “for your courage as you embrace the new chapter of your firefighting journey.”
The 22 male and two female graduates endured an intensive and highly technical programme running from 7 July to 8 August 2025. The course is designed to deepen their expertise and ability to manage and fight the complex fires they will be exposed to in their communities and careers.
The Executive Mayor concluded her address through an inspirational ‘north star’, “Firefighter’s represent the very best of the public service, but they too are human. When you are feeling overwhelmed, remember what it is that you have trained for. Remember your north star. F is for focus, I for integrity, R gives you resilience and E demands excellence.”
The president of the governing body of the South African Emergency Services Institute (SAESI), Tania Geldenhuys, shared the history of fire services in South Africa. Fire Services already established in the pre-1900’s forming part of colonial development, during the period 1940’s – 1994, urbanisation and apartheid governed growth of the service. ‘However, as from 1994 the services have embraced post-apartheid transformation and today, we have fully integrated fire services and training.” Ms. Geldenhuys shared.
During his message, Heinrich Louw, Head of the CWDM Training Academy, parted from the graduates stating, “Remember the moments in the time, the struggle and pride that comes with being a firefighter.”
In tribute to their instructors, Fire Cadet, Ruan Alberts, shared that they learned to work as a team through supporting each other as they were pushed to their limits. He said, “the instructor pushed us, seeing in us, what we still needed to find within ourselves. Respect, integrity and punctuality are the values at our core, and we will continue to strive toward being the kind of firefighters that our instructors already are.”
CWDM’s Chief Fire Officer, Wayne Josias, reminded graduates that being a firefighter is not all about adventure, and that ‘as we serve, we need to build strong communities.”
A poignant moment during the traditional ‘bell ringing’ reminded us of all the dangers of this career. A respectful and sad moment of silence was held for Chief Fire Officer, Derick Damons, who recently passed away and had served the Drakenstein Municipality’s Fire services for almost 20 years.
At the end of the formal ceremony, the newly qualified firefighters joyfully threw their hats in the air in celebration.
