Deadly Fire in Johannesburg Highlights Housing Crisis, South African President Urges Enforcement of Regulations
JOHANNESBURG, September 2 – South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on authorities to enforce regulations to prevent city residents from unlawfully occupying apartment blocks, following a deadly fire in a Johannesburg building that was occupied illegally. The fire, which claimed the lives of more than 70 people, has shed light on the housing crisis in one of the world’s most unequal cities, where poverty and unemployment are rampant.
Speaking at a governing African National Congress party event, President Ramaphosa emphasized the need for local governments to uphold the law. “Local government has to enforce the laws,” he said. “This has given us a wake-up call, and I have said that our cities and municipalities must now pay attention to how people live. We do encourage people to live in the inner city…but we need to do it in accordance with our laws.”
The affected apartment block is owned by municipal authorities, but officials have stated that it was “invaded and hijacked” by unknown groups. In addition, government officials suspect that some of the victims may have been renting from or being extorted by criminal gangs associated with “hijacked buildings” syndicates.
Efforts to evict residents from illegally occupied buildings have been challenging for municipal officials due to court orders that prohibit the evictions. President Ramaphosa revealed that he has instructed government ministers to explore ways of enforcing laws without violating people’s rights.
The gutted building holds historical significance, as it was used during apartheid-era South Africa for Black South Africans to collect their “dompas” or passbook, which allowed them to work in white-owned areas of the city. President Ramaphosa himself collected his passbook at the building nearly 50 years ago when he worked in the city.
The tragic fire has brought attention to the dire housing conditions faced by many residents in Johannesburg. President Ramaphosa’s call for enforcement of regulations and exploration of more effective housing measures aims to address these challenges and prevent future tragedies.
Reporting by Carien du Plessis; Writing by Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo; Editing by Ros Russell