FIREFIGHTER Gideon Maletzky

Gideon Maletzky is the Okahandja municipality's chief emergency officer. He said to become a firefighter, you must be enthusiastic about defending lives and property through focused service performance, especially in the face of veld fires. Firefighters risk their lives to safeguard and prevent harm or loss, he said, adding that they are also committed to aiding team members with routine station tasks like drills and fire alarms. "Being a firefighter can be extremely physically and mentally demanding. Our job involves not only physical power, but also a keen presence of mind and a service attitude."