26 Jul 73 dead in Johannesburg fire

At least 73 people have died in a fire that swept through a multi-storey building used as an ‘informal settlement’ in Johannesburg, described by South Africa’s president as ‘a great tragedy’.

Another 52 individuals were injured in the blaze that erupted in the heart of South Africa’s largest city with emergency services warning that the death toll may yet climb.

President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa termed the loss of more than 70 lives in a residential block fire in Johannesburg ‘a great tragedy’ and expressed hope that an investigation would prevent such incidents from recurring.

Robert Mulaudzi, spokesperson for emergency services, remarked: “In over 20 years of service, I have never encountered something like this.”

Seven of the victims were children, with the youngest just one year old.

According to a local government official, some residents attempted to escape the flames by jumping out of windows, actions which may have contributed to additional casualties.

The building was owned by municipal authorities who, even 12 hours after the fire began, were still uncertain about its occupants.

One official suggested that certain rooms might have been rented out by criminal syndicates.

A large crowd gathered near the building’s cordon while firefighters worked to extinguish remaining hotspots.

A tearful mother, Treasurelee Shuping, told local reporters she was searching for her daughter.

“She has been living in that building for over a year now, and as soon as I heard it was burning down, I rushed here to find her,” she told Times Live.

“I am extremely anxious. I do not know if my daughter is alive.”

Leo, a 25-year-old survivor, had been residing on the building’s second floor and managed to escape with his mother using the stairs.

“People were just fleeing. It was dark and filled with smoke. Nothing was visible,” he said.

Some windows displayed makeshift ropes of sheets and other materials, although it remained unclear whether these were used for escape attempts or to salvage belongings.

Mr Mulaudzi described the building as effectively an ‘informal settlement’ where homeless individuals sought accommodation without formal lease agreements.

He noted the presence of numerous obstacles that impeded both residents attempting to flee and emergency responders working at the scene.

Witnesses suggested there may have been up to 200 people living in the building.

Mgcini Tshwaku, a local government official, indicated there were signs that individuals had lit fires inside the building to keep warm during the winter cold.

City Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda informed reporters that the municipality had leased the building to a charity for displaced women, but it had ‘ended up serving a different purpose,’ declining to elaborate further.

Lebogang Isaac Maile, head of the Human Settlements department for Gauteng province, which encompasses Johannesburg, suggested that some of the victims who perished may have been tenants of criminal gangs unlawfully collecting rent.

“There are cartels that prey on vulnerable people. Many of these buildings, if not most, are controlled by these cartels who extort rent from the inhabitants,” he told reporters.

Johannesburg remains one of the world’s most unequal cities, grappling with widespread poverty, unemployment, and a housing crisis. According to the Gauteng government, it has approximately 15,000 homeless individuals.

Household fires are frequent in Johannesburg, particularly in impoverished areas. Alexandra, one of the poorest townships, has witnessed several fires destroying hundreds of homes over the past five years.

The city faces chronic power shortages, prompting many residents to rely on candles for lighting and wood fires for warmth.