On Thursday, August 31st, a fire in Johannesburg destroyed a dilapidated five-story office building that was being used for illegal housing killing more than 70 people and making it one of the most tragic incidents of its kind in a city already plagued by poverty, frequent house fires, and homelessness.
After the incident, the burnt-out building was surrounded by emergency services, with numerous bodies covered in blankets on a nearby street. Police teams, accompanied by sniffer dogs, scoured the charred remains of the apartment block.
During his visit to the hospital to see the injured, Health Minister Joe Phaahla informed the public that the death count had escalated to 76.
There’s speculation that criminal gangs might have illicitly leased some units in what’s termed a “hijacked building.” Due to the office building, which was owned by municipal authorities, being hijacked and leased illegally as apartments, officials are having trouble confirming the identities of its residents.
Eyewitnesses and survivors recounted harrowing tales, with one person witnessing a man falling to his death from the fourth floor.
While speaking to Reuters, Survivor Omar Arafat narrated his escape from the blaze, saying, “I broke the window…and when I fell down, I was like ‘I am dead.’” Arafat claims to have lost his 21-year-old sister to the flames.
Thembalethu Mpahlaza from Forensic Pathology Services stated that 74 bodies had been recovered from the site, including 12 children and 24 women. Over 50 people are receiving medical attention for injuries.
Mpahlaza noted that the majority of the victims were so severely burned that identification would necessitate DNA samples from family members. He further mentioned that of the bodies recovered, only 12 could be visually identified.
Expressing his condolences, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa highlighted the dire need for stringent investigations to prevent future tragedies.
While visiting the sight of the fire, Ramaphosa said, “This is unprecedented. Johannesburg has never had an incident like this where so many people died as a result of a fire in the center of the city. This is tragic….I want to pass my condolences, and that of the government, to the families of those who have passed on and those who are still in the hospital.”
He continued, “This is a great tragedy felt by families whose loved ones perished in this terrible manner. I do hope that the investigations into the fire will…prevent a repeat of such a tragedy.”
Lastly, Ramaphosa said, “It’s a wake-up call for us to begin to address the situation of housing in the inner city.”
Though initially thought to be inhabited by squatters, Lebogang Isaac Maile, who heads the Human Settlements department for Gauteng province, indicated that some of those who perished might have been victims of criminal gang extortions.
Maile said, “There are cartels who prey on vulnerable people. Some of these buildings, if not most of them, are actually in the hands of those cartels who collect rent from the people.”
City Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda mentioned the building was intended to serve as a shelter for displaced women through a charity, but its purpose seemed to have been altered.
The building has roots in South Africa’s apartheid era, serving as a place where Black South Africans obtained documents to work in white-dominated city areas.
Johannesburg ranks among the world’s cities with stark disparities, characterized by pervasive poverty, unemployment, and housing challenges.
The government estimates that the city has around 15,000 homeless residents.
Residential fires are frequent in the city, particularly in economically disadvantaged areas. Alexandra, one of the city’s most impoverished townships, has witnessed the destruction of hundreds of homes due to multiple fires in the last five years.
Persistent power outages plague the city, leading many inhabitants to rely on candles for light and wood fires for warmth.
The investigation into the recent fire’s origin is ongoing, as stated by the authorities.
