Deputy Minister of Forestry Fisheries and the Environment, Bernice Swarts has dismissed reports that a number of fire engines have been inactive for several years and are sitting idle.

Earlier today, the Deputy Minister visited the Centurion Fire Station to inspect the firefighting vehicles currently being stored at the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality.

Swarts says that the nine vehicles, which are currently being stored there, are earmarked to be donated to municipalities who urgently need them, after the transfer process is completed.

She says the process to donate the vehicles already began in November last year.

“These trucks are direly needed by our municipalities and we accept that and it is for us to get the MOUs to give the donation so that it goes through. And I think that in other instances when things are happening people might have not understood clearly that for these trucks to go into circulation and to work, it must go to a council meeting because it is not just an ordinary donation, it is a donation that must go into the asset.”