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7 August 2026
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Tshwane Emergency Services enhances USAR capability through inter-municipal partnership
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The City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department continues to strengthen its Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) capability through specialised rope rescue training currently taking place in Boksburg, hosted by the City of Ekurhuleni.
The training forms part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two metropolitan municipalities, which promotes collaboration in developing highly skilled Urban Search and Rescue technicians capable of responding to complex emergencies. The initiative enables Tshwane firefighters to complete specialist training modules required to qualify as fully accredited USAR technicians.
The City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department has made significant progress in developing its own specialist training capability and has been accredited to offer several modules for the USAR Technician training course. This allows firefighters to complete several modules within the City while maintaining nationally recognised standards. Through the partnership with the City of Ekurhuleni, Tshwane firefighters are able to complete additional specialist modules, including rope rescue training, ensuring they obtain the full range of competencies required for USAR Technician qualification.
The rope rescue course equips firefighters with advanced techniques to safely conduct rescues in challenging environments such as high-rise buildings, collapsed structures, confined spaces, deep excavations, industrial facilities, bridges and other difficult-to-access locations. These highly specialised skills are essential during incidents where conventional rescue methods are insufficient.
As one of South Africa's largest metropolitan municipalities, the City of Tshwane responds to thousands of emergency incidents annually across a vast geographical area with an extensive network of formal residential developments, commercial precincts, industrial facilities, government buildings and critical infrastructure. The complexity of these environments requires specialist rescue personnel who can safely and efficiently respond to technically demanding incidents.
Having qualified USAR Technicians within the Emergency Services Department significantly enhances the City's emergency response capability by providing specialised expertise during structural collapses, high-angle rescues, confined space incidents, severe weather emergencies and other complex rescue operations. Their advanced training enables faster, safer and more effective rescue operations.
Source: Deputy chief Nana Radebe-Kgiba, Public Information and Liaison Services, City of Tshwane Emergency Services
The training forms part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two metropolitan municipalities, which promotes collaboration in developing highly skilled Urban Search and Rescue technicians capable of responding to complex emergencies. The initiative enables Tshwane firefighters to complete specialist training modules required to qualify as fully accredited USAR technicians.
The City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department has made significant progress in developing its own specialist training capability and has been accredited to offer several modules for the USAR Technician training course. This allows firefighters to complete several modules within the City while maintaining nationally recognised standards. Through the partnership with the City of Ekurhuleni, Tshwane firefighters are able to complete additional specialist modules, including rope rescue training, ensuring they obtain the full range of competencies required for USAR Technician qualification.
The rope rescue course equips firefighters with advanced techniques to safely conduct rescues in challenging environments such as high-rise buildings, collapsed structures, confined spaces, deep excavations, industrial facilities, bridges and other difficult-to-access locations. These highly specialised skills are essential during incidents where conventional rescue methods are insufficient.
As one of South Africa's largest metropolitan municipalities, the City of Tshwane responds to thousands of emergency incidents annually across a vast geographical area with an extensive network of formal residential developments, commercial precincts, industrial facilities, government buildings and critical infrastructure. The complexity of these environments requires specialist rescue personnel who can safely and efficiently respond to technically demanding incidents.
Having qualified USAR Technicians within the Emergency Services Department significantly enhances the City's emergency response capability by providing specialised expertise during structural collapses, high-angle rescues, confined space incidents, severe weather emergencies and other complex rescue operations. Their advanced training enables faster, safer and more effective rescue operations.
Source: Deputy chief Nana Radebe-Kgiba, Public Information and Liaison Services, City of Tshwane Emergency Services