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12 December 2025
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SAESI 2025 Conference, exhibition and competitions held in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni
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The Southern African Emergency Services Institute (SAESI) hosted its much-anticipated 33rd annual SAESI Conference, Exhibition and Challenges over 27 and 28 November 2025 at the Leon Ferreira Fire Station in Boksburg, Gauteng; a cornerstone event for fire, rescue and emergency services professionals in South Africa. The SAESI 2025 Conference, themed “Collaborate, Train, Innovate,” brought together fire and emergency service members from across South Africa to share knowledge, strengthen professional networks and advance operational excellence. Organised by SAESI, a non-profit institute dedicated to improving the fire and emergency services sector, the conference is widely regarded as one of the most important calendar events for firefighters, emergency managers, disaster response leaders and related practitioners.
Over two days, delegates engaged in presentations and panel discussions on best practices and operational experiences, training sessions and workshops and an exhibition featuring the latest emergency technology, apparatus and safety equipment from industry partners.
Apart from the conference itself, proceedings also included a welcome meet-and-greet event and a gala dinner, while SAESI’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held on 26 November 2025.
An exhibition formed part of the SAESI 2025 and provided exhibitors the opportunity to showcase their equipment to the audience.
Day one also saw the Rocket HEMS landing and being displayed.
SAESI Conference
SAESI’s president, Theresa Geldenhuys, emphasised that the conference and competition not only promote professional standards but also foster collaboration, improve training outcomes and help emergency services remain well-equipped for future challenges.
The conference programme director and MC was Louis Pretorius and the opening prayer conducted by Rev (Chaplain) David Niebuhr - President of the Board (Emergency Services Chaplaincy) (SA) followed by the necrology by Past President Ronnie Cloete. SAESI Chairperson of the Board, Dino Padayachee welcomed all after which the inauguration and president’s address followed by SAESI President, Theresa Geldenhuys.
The keynote address was presented by the NDMC’s Roland Hendricks on behalf of COGTA Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa. The traditional walk about followed.
Presentations
The Conference closing remarks were presented by Thinus Pretorius, Past President.
Fit to Fight Fire Challenge
The Fit to Fight Fire Challenge was a physically demanding challenge designed to test the strength, agility, endurance and technical skills essential to effective firefighting. The results:
Individual winners
Age Group 18–29
Tumelo Sampson – 2:17.12
Magnificent Makhoane – 2:17.53
Jean Dean de Villiers – 2:23.38
Age Group 30–34
Kyle Freitag – 2:12.25
Vincent Naudé – 2:15.97
Nick Berry – 2:31.38
Age Group 35–39
Simiso Gumede – 2:16.63
Johannes Moreba – 2:25.69
Sandile Mdawe – 2:34.15
Age Group 40–44
Nico Gouws – 1:54.34
Tertius Engelbrecht – 2:04.13
Motlatsi Qhina – 2:21.22
Age Group 45–49
Manie Gouws – 2:18.34
M. Nemangaya – 3:16.31
Andries Matome – 4:02.31
Age Group 50–54
Morné Mommsen – 2:22.47
Gert Steynsburg – 2:37.53
Smanga Kamase – 2:48.10
Women (all ages)
Precious Mpungose – 2:20.25
M. Moswete – 2:20.44
Johannah Belali – 2:54.72
Teams
Open Teams
Midvaal Team 1 – 2:48.10
Team N'zuri – 2:55.59
Team Charnaud – 2:57.66
Over 40 Teams
Midvaal Industrial Fire – 2:53.72
Team N'zuri Over 40’s – 3:31.88
Mixed Ages Teams
Midvaal Mix – 3:20.15
Mixed Teams
Ethekwini Fire Mixed Team 1 – 3:41.06
Ethekwini Fire Mixed Team 2 – 3:45.87
Ethekwini Fire Ladies – 4:15.04
Vehicle Extrication Challenge
The Vehicle Extrication Challenge had participating teams showcasing their skills under pressure with the results being:
Best Technical Team
Western Cape EMS
Best Medics
Western Cape EMS
Best Incident Commander
Western Cape EMS
Overall Top Teams
1st Place – Western Cape EMS
2nd Place – City of Ekurhuleni DEMS
3rd Place – Extraction (eThekwini Fire)
This year’s competition drew teams from fire departments nationwide, with competitors representing a range of age categories and both individual and team brackets.
Photo gallery
The FRI gallery: https://www.frimedia.org/saesi-2025.html
Over two days, delegates engaged in presentations and panel discussions on best practices and operational experiences, training sessions and workshops and an exhibition featuring the latest emergency technology, apparatus and safety equipment from industry partners.
Apart from the conference itself, proceedings also included a welcome meet-and-greet event and a gala dinner, while SAESI’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held on 26 November 2025.
An exhibition formed part of the SAESI 2025 and provided exhibitors the opportunity to showcase their equipment to the audience.
Day one also saw the Rocket HEMS landing and being displayed.
SAESI Conference
SAESI’s president, Theresa Geldenhuys, emphasised that the conference and competition not only promote professional standards but also foster collaboration, improve training outcomes and help emergency services remain well-equipped for future challenges.
The conference programme director and MC was Louis Pretorius and the opening prayer conducted by Rev (Chaplain) David Niebuhr - President of the Board (Emergency Services Chaplaincy) (SA) followed by the necrology by Past President Ronnie Cloete. SAESI Chairperson of the Board, Dino Padayachee welcomed all after which the inauguration and president’s address followed by SAESI President, Theresa Geldenhuys.
The keynote address was presented by the NDMC’s Roland Hendricks on behalf of COGTA Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa. The traditional walk about followed.
Presentations
- Multi-agency response: Improving fireground coordination between emergency services by Colin Deiner, Chief Director: Disaster management and fire and rescue services western cape government
- continuous professional development in a changing professional environment by Dr Alti Kriel, CEO Institute for Work at Height
- Innovative approaches to firefighter PPE by Johan Nel, managing director: Lymae
- Working with urban planners to design fire-resilient communities by Melanie Smith, divisional chief: Fire Safety, City of Johannesburg
- Engagement in fire prevention: Collaborating with local stakeholders by Marius Atterbury, CEO: FPASA
- Developing leadership skills in fire officers through targeted programmes by Ronnie Cloete and Louis Pretorius
- Day I closing remarks by Moshema Mosia, Past President
- Day 2 opening remarks by Theresa Geldenhuys, SAESI President
- The South African National Blood Services by Monique Schreiner, donor relations manager
- Training for wildland-urban interface fires: New challenges, new approaches by Leeann Oosthuizen, senior fire instructor: Kishugu
- Mental health and resilience training in fire services by Dr Andre Nel
- Smart firefighting: Using drones, sensors and AI in fire operations by De Wet Engelbrecht, CEO: Fire Ops
- Sustainable firefighting: eco-friendly suppression methods by Louis Koekemoer and Johan van den Heever, Fireblock
- Innovating firefighter training through collaborative tech partnerships by Dr Solomon Smit, CEO: Alpha Tower
- Data-driven innovation in fire services through collaborative research by Vincent Mokoana, programme coordinator: TUT
The Conference closing remarks were presented by Thinus Pretorius, Past President.
Fit to Fight Fire Challenge
The Fit to Fight Fire Challenge was a physically demanding challenge designed to test the strength, agility, endurance and technical skills essential to effective firefighting. The results:
Individual winners
Age Group 18–29
Tumelo Sampson – 2:17.12
Magnificent Makhoane – 2:17.53
Jean Dean de Villiers – 2:23.38
Age Group 30–34
Kyle Freitag – 2:12.25
Vincent Naudé – 2:15.97
Nick Berry – 2:31.38
Age Group 35–39
Simiso Gumede – 2:16.63
Johannes Moreba – 2:25.69
Sandile Mdawe – 2:34.15
Age Group 40–44
Nico Gouws – 1:54.34
Tertius Engelbrecht – 2:04.13
Motlatsi Qhina – 2:21.22
Age Group 45–49
Manie Gouws – 2:18.34
M. Nemangaya – 3:16.31
Andries Matome – 4:02.31
Age Group 50–54
Morné Mommsen – 2:22.47
Gert Steynsburg – 2:37.53
Smanga Kamase – 2:48.10
Women (all ages)
Precious Mpungose – 2:20.25
M. Moswete – 2:20.44
Johannah Belali – 2:54.72
Teams
Open Teams
Midvaal Team 1 – 2:48.10
Team N'zuri – 2:55.59
Team Charnaud – 2:57.66
Over 40 Teams
Midvaal Industrial Fire – 2:53.72
Team N'zuri Over 40’s – 3:31.88
Mixed Ages Teams
Midvaal Mix – 3:20.15
Mixed Teams
Ethekwini Fire Mixed Team 1 – 3:41.06
Ethekwini Fire Mixed Team 2 – 3:45.87
Ethekwini Fire Ladies – 4:15.04
Vehicle Extrication Challenge
The Vehicle Extrication Challenge had participating teams showcasing their skills under pressure with the results being:
Best Technical Team
Western Cape EMS
Best Medics
Western Cape EMS
Best Incident Commander
Western Cape EMS
Overall Top Teams
1st Place – Western Cape EMS
2nd Place – City of Ekurhuleni DEMS
3rd Place – Extraction (eThekwini Fire)
This year’s competition drew teams from fire departments nationwide, with competitors representing a range of age categories and both individual and team brackets.
Photo gallery
The FRI gallery: https://www.frimedia.org/saesi-2025.html
