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14 March 2025
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City of Tshwane firefighters successfully rescue a donkey from a septic tank pit
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The City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department responded to an animal-rescue call on the afternoon of Wednesday, 12 March 2025, on Graceland Drive in Bashewa, in Pretoria East. Lindsay Mnguni, acting public information and media liaison officer at the City of Tshwane Emergency Services, said, “The animal-rescue incident was reported to our Emergency Communication Centre at about 16h54 and firefighting resources were immediately dispatched from Erasmuskloof Fire Station and Innesdale Fire Station to the scene. These included a fire truck, a water tanker and a rope rescue unit.”
“Upon arrival, firefighters found out that, a donkey was stuck in a septic-tank pit, filled with sewage waste. They immediately initiated incident command and developed an incident action plan. Thereafter they began with the rescue operation. However, the operation presented several challenges, as there was a large concrete slab hanging over the animal, which needed to be safely removed and placed away from the scene before rescue efforts could begin. As the incident occurred in an open field, there was sufficient breathable air for both the rescuers and the animal in distress and this proved to be a great advantage for the operation to proceed safely”, said Mnguni.
He added, “The firefighters used the tractor-loader-backhoe (TLB) vehicle provided by the neighbouring property owners, to slowly and safely lift and remove the concrete slab. Utilizing trench rescue tactics, the firefighters also dug out a sloped walkway or step adjacent to the concrete wall of the septic tank to access the donkey. The operation was even further hindered by large rocks and required the use of buckets connected to utility ropes to remove and empty the septic tank sludge. Although this was a painstakingly slow process, our firefighters meticulously worked around the donkey and eventually got to its level.”
“At approximately 22h00, they successfully placed two heavy-duty slings around the donkey's front and hind legs and, with the assistance of the Tractor-Loader-Backhoe (TLB) vehicle, they slowly and safely lifted the animal out of the pit until it could walk out on its own”, he said.
“The rescue operation was completed at about 23h00 and the donkey was decontaminated with a water solution. Fortunately, the animal was unharmed and sustained no injuries.”
“This rescue operation and the swift actions of our firefighters highlight some of our values as the City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department and the commitment to saving lives and property, no matter the challenges we may be faced with at incidents”, concluded Mnguni.
Source: Lindsay Zwelithini Mnguni, acting public information and media liaison officer, City of Tshwane Emergency Services
“Upon arrival, firefighters found out that, a donkey was stuck in a septic-tank pit, filled with sewage waste. They immediately initiated incident command and developed an incident action plan. Thereafter they began with the rescue operation. However, the operation presented several challenges, as there was a large concrete slab hanging over the animal, which needed to be safely removed and placed away from the scene before rescue efforts could begin. As the incident occurred in an open field, there was sufficient breathable air for both the rescuers and the animal in distress and this proved to be a great advantage for the operation to proceed safely”, said Mnguni.
He added, “The firefighters used the tractor-loader-backhoe (TLB) vehicle provided by the neighbouring property owners, to slowly and safely lift and remove the concrete slab. Utilizing trench rescue tactics, the firefighters also dug out a sloped walkway or step adjacent to the concrete wall of the septic tank to access the donkey. The operation was even further hindered by large rocks and required the use of buckets connected to utility ropes to remove and empty the septic tank sludge. Although this was a painstakingly slow process, our firefighters meticulously worked around the donkey and eventually got to its level.”
“At approximately 22h00, they successfully placed two heavy-duty slings around the donkey's front and hind legs and, with the assistance of the Tractor-Loader-Backhoe (TLB) vehicle, they slowly and safely lifted the animal out of the pit until it could walk out on its own”, he said.
“The rescue operation was completed at about 23h00 and the donkey was decontaminated with a water solution. Fortunately, the animal was unharmed and sustained no injuries.”
“This rescue operation and the swift actions of our firefighters highlight some of our values as the City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department and the commitment to saving lives and property, no matter the challenges we may be faced with at incidents”, concluded Mnguni.
Source: Lindsay Zwelithini Mnguni, acting public information and media liaison officer, City of Tshwane Emergency Services
