An investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of a tragic fire that consumed a five-story building in Johannesburg, which had been taken over for unauthorized housing. Officials from the city and the region, who visited the scene, have pledged to hold those responsible accountable for the devastating overnight fire.
Lebogang Maile, the MEC for Human Settlements and Infrastructure Development for Gauteng, affirmed, “If any city official is found to have disregarded their duties or neglected their responsibilities, there will be consequences.”
The fire occurred on Thursday morning and resulted in the loss of more than 70 lives, including children, as reported by Johannesburg city’s emergency services. An additional 52 individuals were injured, making it one of the deadliest recent fires on a global scale.
The bodies of the victims were discovered accumulated at a closed security gate, preventing their escape from the blaze, according to an official account. The building, situated in a deprived and crime-prone area, had been repurposed for illegal housing after being abandoned. Many of the occupants were foreigners.
Emergency Management Services spokesman Robert Mulaudzi shared, “We now have 73 fatalities and 52 injured individuals who have been transported to various healthcare facilities for further treatment.” Among the deceased were at least seven children, with the youngest being under two years old.
Kenny Bupe, a survivor caught in the fire while visiting a friend, recounted the chaos. “I’m thankful to be alive. Many of us were running, trying to find the fire exit, and unfortunately, many people lost their lives due to smoke inhalation.” He revealed that some individuals resorted to breaking open a locked fire escape gate, while others jumped out of windows to escape the flames.
Firefighters have managed to extinguish the fire, and search and recovery operations are ongoing. Mulaudzi explained, “We are systematically recovering bodies on each floor.”
This tragic event has left the city of Johannesburg deeply saddened, with Mulaudzi expressing, “It is indeed a somber day for Johannesburg… In my over 20 years of service, I have never encountered something like this.”
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but Mgcini Tshwaku, a member of the city’s mayoral committee overseeing public safety, suggested that candles used for lighting inside the building could be a potential cause. The building had been repurposed for informal settlement, and the tragic outcome was exacerbated by a closed security gate that prevented people from escaping.
Illegal occupation of abandoned structures is widespread in Johannesburg’s city center, often controlled by criminal syndicates collecting rent from occupants. South Africa, as a significant economic hub on the continent, attracts numerous migrants, many of whom are undocumented, from various African nations.
This fire marks one of the deadliest incidents in the country’s recent history and stands as a stark reminder of the challenges associated with informal housing and urban development.