SA, Swaziland agree to fight cross-border fires together
South Africa's minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, Tina Joemat-Pettersson and Swaziland's tourism and environmental minister, Macford Sibandze signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cross-border fires, hoping to integrate the way the two countries manage devastating cross-border fires.
"We are not trying to act like a big brother through this agreement," said Joemat-Pettersson, "we realised the need to closely work with our neighbours." Using the MoU, the two countries will integrate their fire management control and share resources, she said, adding "remember [that] disasters such as running fires need a large contingent team, well-equipped or not."
Recently-appointed Sibandze, was excited about having started his plans of forging relations with South Africa on cross-border fire. He said that most of the running fires in the Swazi Kingdom are deliberately caused by individuals through negligence or anger. Sibandze plans to organise a Fire indaba in his country, in order to address the issue of damage caused by running fires.
Read the full article on www.buanews.gov.za/.
