Cape Town firefighters delivered a commanding performance at this year’s Toughest Firefighter Alive competition in George, walking away with 13 gold, 10 silver and one bronze medal in a display of physical and mental toughness that underscored why they’re among South Africa’s most respected emergency responders.
At the heart of the triumph was Baigum Abrahams from Westridge Fire Station in Mitchell’s Plain, who retained her title as South Africa’s Toughest Female Firefighter Alive for the third consecutive year, this time sharing the honour with colleague Thobeka Senatse from Kraaifontein.
But Abrahams’ path to firefighting excellence began with personal tragedy that transformed her life’s mission.
From victim to victor
“I was 20 or 21 years old, and I was with my son in the house, and the kitchen caught alight. I woke up to the crackling sound of the fire,” recalled the 30-year-old Strandfontein resident, describing the incident that would reshape her career.
Fleeing the house with her young son, Abrahams watched firefighters arrive and take control of the blaze that nearly consumed her home.
“I just felt like the weight of the world wasn’t on my shoulders. I felt a massive sense of gratitude and relief because there were people to help, and I wanted to give that feeling to as many people as I could.”
Despite coming from a family deeply involved in sea rescue work, Abrahams chose to buck the family trend and train as a firefighter – a decision she’s never regretted during her “eight years, three months and 16 days” of service.
“Yes, I count the days,” she laughed. “I know it’s funny.”
Testing the limits
The Toughest Firefighter Alive competition simulates real-world firefighting scenarios through a gruelling obstacle course that pushes participants to their physical and mental limits. Competitors must carry 80-kilogram dummies, jump 3-meter walls, run up scaffolding, pull heavy hoses, and use mallets on “keiser machines” to simulate forced entry – all while wearing full protective gear including boots, fire tunics, air tanks, helmets and thick gloves.
More than 250 firefighters and 44 relay teams from across South Africa participated, joined by international teams from Botswana and Namibia.
For Abrahams, the competition represents more than personal achievement – it reflects the daily reality of working at one of the country’s busiest fire stations.
“In December, we had more than 300 calls, and that’s just fire calls for one month, but we don’t only respond to fires. We get called out to emergencies, motor vehicle accidents, animal rescues, high-angle rope rescues, hazmat calls,” she explained.
The human cost of heroism
The emotional toll of the profession was evident in the reflections of Andiswa Stafa, Abrahams’ 45-year-old colleague from Khayelitsha, who won silver in the individual competition and gold in the relay challenge.
Stafa, who became a firefighter at 35 after previous rescue work, described a call that still haunts her from her second year on the job.
“We were dispatched to Gugulethu to a house that was alight,” she recalled. “During the rescue, we were unable to get to a 9-year-old child who died in the blaze.”
The incident highlighted why calls involving children affect her most deeply.
“Each and every call, when I find out there is a child, then I just move. Children can’t help themselves. At least adults, they find their way out, but kids, they just become confused and hide.”
Cape Town’s Medal Haul
The competition showcased the depth of talent across Cape Town’s fire services:
Individual Gold Winners:
Baigum Abrahams (Westridge) – Overall female champion and 30-34 age category
Thobeka Senatse (Kraaifontein) – Co-champion and 45-49 age category
Jermaine Carelse (Goodwood) – 50-54 age category
Relay Gold:
Women’s relay: Abrahams, Senatse, Nomvuyiseko Lungile (Simon’s Town), and Andiswa Stafa (Mitchell’s Plain)
Men’s over-40s relay: Luton Grobbelaar (Wynberg), Carelse, Mohammed Toufiek Armien (Hout Bay), and Rudi van der Berg (Lakeside)
Silver Medal Winners:
Andiswa Stafa (Mitchell’s Plain) – Individual category
Nomvuyiseko Lungile (Simon’s Town) – Individual category
Angie Geyser (Milnerton) – Women’s 19-29 category (Disaster Risk Management volunteer)
Timothy Malan (Hout Bay) – 19-29 age category
Frank Forbay (Lakeside) – 55-59 age category
Rudi van der Berg (Lakeside) – 45-49 age category
Men’s open relay team: Aneeb Moses (Epping), Bevan Jacobs (Constantia), Timothy Malan (Hout Bay), Clint Fredericks (Kommetjie Road)
Luton Grobbelaar claimed the lone bronze medal.
Physical and mental demands
Both champions emphasized the critical importance of maintaining peak physical condition for the safety of themselves, their crews, and the communities they serve.
“It can be very dangerous if you don’t keep fit,” Abrahams warned. “It’s your responsibility as a firefighter to keep fit, to keep moving because when you’re at the call, it’s your life, it’s your crew’s life, and the community’s life that you have to look after.”
Stafa described the competition as an ultimate test of character: “The TFA shows your mentality, your focus, and then it shows your strength, your endurance. But on the other side, it will expose who you are because dragging that dummy is a killer.”
Recognition and pride
Mayco member for Safety and Security JP Smith praised the firefighters’ achievements as validation of their daily heroism.
“Their achievements at the competition just cement what we already know – they are some of the toughest, bravest and most dedicated women and men in the country. 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.”
The success of Cape Town’s firefighters at the national competition reflects not just individual excellence, but the strength of a service that continues to attract people like Abrahams and Stafa – individuals who transform personal experiences into professional callings dedicated to protecting others in their darkest moments.
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