Fighting cross-border fires

International relations

South Africa recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Kingdom of Swaziland on cross-border fires. The MoU was signed by South Africa’s Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tina Joemat-Pettersson and Swaziland’s Tourism and Environmental Minister, Macford Sibandze, in Pretoria.

The significance of this agreement is in the spirit of promoting further cross-border coordination of fire management activities between the two neighbouring countries to ensure timely responses to fire suppression needs.

Through this MoU, South Africa and the Kingdom of Swaziland agree to work co-operatively to the fullest possible extent consistent with fire-fighter safety on their borders. The two countries will integrate their fire-management control and will also share resources.

This bilateral agreement between Swaziland and South Africa is a way for the two countries to cooperate in ensuring that healthy relations are maintained and further developed.