Kriel, Mpumalanga – A devastating house fire that engulfed a family home in Crest Crescent on June 18 has pushed the Kriel community to a breaking point. Residents, already battling persistent load reduction and deteriorating infrastructure, believe this fire — the seventh since February 2024 — could have been prevented if local fire services had not been removed from the town.

The blaze occurred while the homeowners were away. By the time they returned, their house was in flames. Community members say the Emalahleni Local Municipality’s delayed emergency response was exacerbated by bureaucratic inefficiencies, particularly a reported “authorisation process” that hindered the dispatch of a fire truck from Phola, nearly 30 km away.

This tragedy has reignited deep-seated frustrations in Kriel, where residents say they feel abandoned, unprotected, and ignored by the local government.

Community Stands Up

Outrage over the fire culminated in a tense public meeting on Wednesday, June 25, during which Executive Mayor Cllr Vusi Julius Nhlapho faced an angry crowd demanding immediate solutions. Community activist Edwin Nel led the call for accountability, with grievances and demands delivered in both English and Zulu.

The removal of Kriel’s fire trucks to Phola was labelled a “non-negotiable” issue, with residents insisting that the trucks be returned permanently. “We are not second-class citizens,” one resident was heard shouting. “We pay our rates — where are our services?”

In addition to the fire services, residents expressed frustration over:

• Up to three instances of daily load reduction
• Pothole-riddled roads
• Sewer overflows
• Lack of functioning streetlights

Another major concern was the redirection of Kriel’s municipal payments to cover expenses in other areas, such as Witbank, rather than investing those funds back into the Kriel community.

Mayor Responds, Promises Change

Cllr Nhlapho attempted to calm tensions, explaining that some issues had not been brought to his attention. He mentioned that he had previously spent two weeks in Kriel to address community concerns, but residents say little progress has been made.

As tensions escalated during the meeting, police had to intervene to protect the mayor from a crowd that at times threatened to turn violent. Fortunately, the situation de-escalated, allowing the dialogue to continue.

Mayor Nhlapho promised to return a fire truck to Kriel by Thursday, a promise that was fulfilled. He further committed to:

• Hiring new fire and traffic officers from within the Kriel community
• Repairing the condemned fire station, which is still being used as a residence
• Resolving infrastructure issues within six months
• Paying greater attention to Kriel’s unique challenges

“The residents of Kriel deserve dignity and reliable services,” Nhlapho said. “We will restore this town to what it should be.”

A United Front

Despite longstanding neglect, the people of Kriel stood together in a unified call for change. Community leaders praised the collective spirit shown during the protest and public meeting. “This was not just about a house burning down,” said Nel. “This is about all of us. We’ve been ignored for too long.”

With promises made and the spotlight finally shining on Kriel, the question now is whether the Emalahleni Municipality will deliver on its commitments — or if the community’s frustration will boil over again.