THE Abaqulusi municipality has invested more than R3,7million in equipment that will help them cope with the effects of natural disasters.
Yesterday, the municipality in Vryheid, northern KwaZulu-Natal, received high-tech equipped vehicles, such as fire trucks, to use during catastrophes.
"We realised we normally come too late to save lives because we have a lack of equipment," said mayor George Dlamini.
"These vehicles are high-tech and properly equipped to deal with disasters and render aid to the poor.
"Our municipality suffers a lot of run-away fires fanned by gale winds, but with the new equipment lives can be saved."
He said the municipality had budgeted about R3million to assist disaster victims.