SA firefighters coming home

SOUTH African firefighters who embarked on a strike over wages in Canada will return home today.

“Following negotiations between the firefighters and the Working on Fire team dispatched to Canada‚ they have agreed to return back to South Africa‚” Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa said.

She dispatched a mediator from Working on Fire late last week to try to resolve the dispute.

The talks were aimed at encouraging the team of 301 firefighters to complete their task or return home.

“The continuation of the suppression of fire was no longer necessary owing to poor weather conditions in Fort McMurray and Edmonton where it has been raining heavily,” Molewa said.

“That means the number of international firefighters from other countries had to return home. “Please, do not condemn our firefighters. Condemning them for disappointing us can only demoralise them,” she said.