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13 March 2026
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National Fire Services Indaba 2026 held in Bloemfontein in the Free State Province
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The 2026 National Fire Services Indaba was held in Bloemfontein in the Free State on 26 and 27 February 2026.
Day 1 of the National Fire Services Indaba addressed three key sessions: Fire Services Governance and Legislative Mandatory, Professional and Regulatory Compliance in Fire Services and Fire Prevention and Fire Risk Reduction. Various experts led these discussions, followed by engaging question and answer segments.
At the gala dinner on the first evening, Minister Hlabisa delivered remarks at the Fire Services Recognition Awards held alongside the National Fire Services Indaba, highlighting the importance of partnership in building resilient communities.
Minister Hlabisa addresses the National Minister Hlabisa has today told delegates at the 2026 National Fire Services Indaba that South Africa’s fire risk environment is intensifying and becoming more complex. Reflecting on one of the deadliest wildfire seasons, which claimed 35 lives, burned nearly four million hectares and caused widespread infrastructure and livestock losses, the Minister warned that fire risk is not a seasonal inconvenience but a national resilience challenge. He said climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of wildfires globally, placing added pressure on municipalities and deepening social and economic trauma in affected communities.
Day 2 of the National Fire Services Indaba took on a special significance with the presence of the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Velenkosini Hlabisa, alongside Deputy Minister of Traditional Affairs, Prince Zolile Burns-Ncamashe, Free State MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Saki Mokoena, Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae and MMC for Public Safety and Transport Cllr. Logan Kruger.
The panel of the National Fire Security Indaba 2026 covered key topics such as coordinating veld fire responses, fostering public-interest partnerships, leveraging geospatial intelligence for planning and applying lessons from a 2025 earthquake exercise to boost fire services via public-private collaborations. Firefighters from the Free State were also honoured for long and dedicated service as well as several delegates, who contributed to the recently urban search and rescue exercise.
Calling for a decisive shift from response to prevention, the Minister Hlabisa said the Indaba theme, ‘Building resilient communities through collaborative strategies for fire risk reduction’, signals a move toward risk reduction, early warning and better planning. He highlighted the Strategic Roadmap to 2030 developed through consultations led by the National Disaster Management Centre, which identified key gaps in municipal capacity, funding, equipment and enforcement of fire safety by-laws.
The Minister also welcomed the re-establishment of the Fire Brigade Services Board after 17 years and confirmed that new legislation is planned for 2026/27 to modernise the outdated 1987 Act, clarify roles across government and professionalise the sector. He emphasised the importance of integrating fire services into urban planning, investing in technology and data-driven risk analysis and strengthening training and support for firefighters. Paying tribute to the bravery of fire personnel, he said building resilient communities must include protecting those who risk their lives to save others
Minister Hlabisa, accompanied by Deputy Minister Burns-Ncamashe and Logan Kruger, MMC for Public Safety and Transport in the Mangaung Metro, conducted a walkabout of the exhibition area showcasing the latest fire and emergency response technologies, equipment and community safety innovations. The leadership delegation engaged with exhibitors, municipal fire chiefs, disaster management practitioners and private sector partners, gaining insight into advancements aimed at strengthening fire prevention, early warning systems and rapid response capabilities across the country.
Following the walkabout, the Minister and his delegation addressed members of the media during a doorstep interview. The engagement provided an opportunity to reflect on key outcomes of the Indaba, highlight government’s commitment to building resilient municipalities and reaffirm the importance of coordinated action to safeguard lives, property and critical infrastructure.
The Draft Fire Services Bill will be fast-tracked in 2026/27, alongside province-specific Fire Services Recovery Packages.
Thanking the hosting MEC of COGTA in the province Mr Saki Mokoena, traditional leaders, local government representatives and business partners, the Minister described their presence as a symbol of the unity required to strengthen fire risk reduction across the country.
Fire and Rescue International will be sharing a more indepth review in the next edition of the magazine.
Photo gallery
Quotes of the week
“What you do has far greater impact than what you say.” ~ Stephen Covey
Fire and Rescue International is your magazine.
Read it, use it and share it!
Read the latest FRI magazine: https://www.frimedia.org/fri-vol-8-no-3.html
Read the latest Disaster Management Journal: https://www.frimedia.org/dmj-vol-7-no-1.html
FRI magazine archive: https://www.frimedia.org/fri-archives.html
DMJ magazine archive: https://www.frimedia.org/dmj-magazine.html
Enjoy the read!
Lee Raath-Brownie
Managing director
Cell: 082 371 0190
Contact us
Tel: 011 452 3135 or Email: [email protected]
Websites
www.fireandrescue.co
www.frimedia.org
Facebook
www.facebook.com/FireandRescueInternational
Twitter
www.twitter.com/FRI_magazine
LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-raath-brownie-16668065/
Day 1 of the National Fire Services Indaba addressed three key sessions: Fire Services Governance and Legislative Mandatory, Professional and Regulatory Compliance in Fire Services and Fire Prevention and Fire Risk Reduction. Various experts led these discussions, followed by engaging question and answer segments.
At the gala dinner on the first evening, Minister Hlabisa delivered remarks at the Fire Services Recognition Awards held alongside the National Fire Services Indaba, highlighting the importance of partnership in building resilient communities.
Minister Hlabisa addresses the National Minister Hlabisa has today told delegates at the 2026 National Fire Services Indaba that South Africa’s fire risk environment is intensifying and becoming more complex. Reflecting on one of the deadliest wildfire seasons, which claimed 35 lives, burned nearly four million hectares and caused widespread infrastructure and livestock losses, the Minister warned that fire risk is not a seasonal inconvenience but a national resilience challenge. He said climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of wildfires globally, placing added pressure on municipalities and deepening social and economic trauma in affected communities.
Day 2 of the National Fire Services Indaba took on a special significance with the presence of the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Velenkosini Hlabisa, alongside Deputy Minister of Traditional Affairs, Prince Zolile Burns-Ncamashe, Free State MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Saki Mokoena, Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae and MMC for Public Safety and Transport Cllr. Logan Kruger.
The panel of the National Fire Security Indaba 2026 covered key topics such as coordinating veld fire responses, fostering public-interest partnerships, leveraging geospatial intelligence for planning and applying lessons from a 2025 earthquake exercise to boost fire services via public-private collaborations. Firefighters from the Free State were also honoured for long and dedicated service as well as several delegates, who contributed to the recently urban search and rescue exercise.
Calling for a decisive shift from response to prevention, the Minister Hlabisa said the Indaba theme, ‘Building resilient communities through collaborative strategies for fire risk reduction’, signals a move toward risk reduction, early warning and better planning. He highlighted the Strategic Roadmap to 2030 developed through consultations led by the National Disaster Management Centre, which identified key gaps in municipal capacity, funding, equipment and enforcement of fire safety by-laws.
The Minister also welcomed the re-establishment of the Fire Brigade Services Board after 17 years and confirmed that new legislation is planned for 2026/27 to modernise the outdated 1987 Act, clarify roles across government and professionalise the sector. He emphasised the importance of integrating fire services into urban planning, investing in technology and data-driven risk analysis and strengthening training and support for firefighters. Paying tribute to the bravery of fire personnel, he said building resilient communities must include protecting those who risk their lives to save others
Minister Hlabisa, accompanied by Deputy Minister Burns-Ncamashe and Logan Kruger, MMC for Public Safety and Transport in the Mangaung Metro, conducted a walkabout of the exhibition area showcasing the latest fire and emergency response technologies, equipment and community safety innovations. The leadership delegation engaged with exhibitors, municipal fire chiefs, disaster management practitioners and private sector partners, gaining insight into advancements aimed at strengthening fire prevention, early warning systems and rapid response capabilities across the country.
Following the walkabout, the Minister and his delegation addressed members of the media during a doorstep interview. The engagement provided an opportunity to reflect on key outcomes of the Indaba, highlight government’s commitment to building resilient municipalities and reaffirm the importance of coordinated action to safeguard lives, property and critical infrastructure.
The Draft Fire Services Bill will be fast-tracked in 2026/27, alongside province-specific Fire Services Recovery Packages.
Thanking the hosting MEC of COGTA in the province Mr Saki Mokoena, traditional leaders, local government representatives and business partners, the Minister described their presence as a symbol of the unity required to strengthen fire risk reduction across the country.
Fire and Rescue International will be sharing a more indepth review in the next edition of the magazine.
Photo gallery
Quotes of the week
“What you do has far greater impact than what you say.” ~ Stephen Covey
Fire and Rescue International is your magazine.
Read it, use it and share it!
Read the latest FRI magazine: https://www.frimedia.org/fri-vol-8-no-3.html
Read the latest Disaster Management Journal: https://www.frimedia.org/dmj-vol-7-no-1.html
FRI magazine archive: https://www.frimedia.org/fri-archives.html
DMJ magazine archive: https://www.frimedia.org/dmj-magazine.html
Enjoy the read!
Lee Raath-Brownie
Managing director
Cell: 082 371 0190
Contact us
Tel: 011 452 3135 or Email: [email protected]
Websites
www.fireandrescue.co
www.frimedia.org
www.facebook.com/FireandRescueInternational
www.twitter.com/FRI_magazine
http://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-raath-brownie-16668065/