Cape Town women are the country’s Toughest Female Firefighters Alive. For the third year in a row, the Mother City’s Baigum Abrahams retained the top spot in this competition by this name, but this time, sharing it with her colleague, Thobeka Senatse.
“They are some of the toughest, bravest and most dedicated women and men in the country,” said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith.
Cape Town women are the country’s Toughest Female Firefighters Alive
At the same time, Abrahams also won the gold medal in the 30 – 34 age category. Senatse took the same honour but in the women’s 45 – 49 age category. But their medals tally didn’t stop there. They paired with colleagues, Nomvuyiseko Lungile and Andiswa Stafa, to add another gold medal in the women’s relay. Additionally, Lungile and Stafa also won silver medals in other categories.
Toughest Firefighter Alive competition
They were part of the City’s firefighters team, who brought home 13 gold medals in the Toughest Firefighter Alive competition. The competition, pitting the strongest firefighters in the country against each other, was held over the weekend in George. At the same time, the City of Cape Town’s Fire & Rescue team also bagged 10 silver and 1 bronze medal in the Southern Cape.
Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, said, “Their achievements at the competition just cement what we already know”.
Gold medals (13), Silver (10) and Bronze (1)
Other winners include Jermaine Carelse, who won gold in the 50 – 54 age category for men. Another gold medal came to the over-40s men’s relay team, consisting of Luton Grobbelaar, Jermaine Carelse, Mohammed Toufiek Armien, and Rudi Van Der Berg. In the open relay category, also for men, the team of Aneeb Moses, Grant Jacobs, Timothy Malan and Clint Fredericks took home the silver medal.
The winning firefighters are from the following fire stations:
Thobeka Senatse – Kraaifontein
Baigum Abrahams – Mitchells Plain
Andiswa Stafa- Mitchells Plain
Nomvyiuseko Lungile – Simons Town
Timothy Malan – Hout Bay
Aneeb Moses – Epping
Grant Jacobs – Lakeside
Clint Fredericks – Kommetjie Road
Luton Grobbelaar – Wynberg
Rudi Van Der Bergh – Lakeside
Moegammad Armien – Hout Bay
Jermaine Carelse – Goodwood
“Congratulations to the team, who not only did us proud against their counterparts, but who have us saluting them every day as they step into the flames to save lives and property,” said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith.
According to the organisers, the competition tests firefighters’ mental and physical fitness and simulates firefighting scenarios. It is reported that over 250 firefighters and 44 relay teams from across South Africa participated in the competition. They also squared off against teams from Namibia and Botswana.
