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The building fire at the intersection of Commissioner and Nugget Streets in Johannesburg CBD during the early hours of January 21st is a distressing signal for the City.

Regrettably, as of this statement, two lives have been lost, and four individuals have been hospitalized for treatment. The Joburg Emergency Management Services is actively managing the situation, and the fire is now under control.

We extend our deepest condolences to the families affected by this tragic incident and wish a swift recovery to those injured.

While the firefighting capabilities of Joburg EMS will understandably face scrutiny, a critical factor demands immediate attention. The presence of unlawfully occupied buildings in the inner city poses a significant threat. National, provincial, and local governments lack a sustainable strategy to address these hazardous structures and the thousands of vulnerable, yet illegal, occupants within.

Strengthening firefighting capabilities through the acquisition of fire engines, equipment, and additional personnel should not be a reactive response to fire incidents but an ongoing initiative by the metro.

The City possesses crucial information regarding unlawfully occupied condemned buildings and must now take precise actions to rectify the situation. An effective starting point would be engaging with building owners and stakeholders including government itself, to devise a strategy for relocating occupants, adopting a firm stance against building hijackers, and repurposing the condemned structures.

We call on the City of Johannesburg to start the systematic process of inspecting all the buildings in the CBD for fire and safety compliance. Further, the DA calls on the city to take urgent action against building owners whose buildings do not comply with the aforementioned standards.

It is only through decisive actions that lives can be safeguarded from these perilous structures.

The DA will be asking tough questions to the City’s executives and officials as to how this kind of disaster will be avoided in future.

Issued by Cllr Michael Sun - DA Shadow MMC for Public Safety in CoJ