06 Jun Report blames Johannesburg officials for blaze which killed 76

A fire that claimed 76 lives in Johannesburg last year has led to a report concluding that city authorities are to blame for ignoring severe safety issues at the rundown apartment block for at least four years prior to the tragedy.

The blaze broke out at a five-story building in downtown Johannesburg on August 31, 2023, and stands as one of South Africa’s deadliest disasters.

Retired Judge Sisi Khampepe led the inquiry, which started in October. In her report delivered Sunday, she criticised the City of Johannesburg, the building’s owner, for showing “total disregard” for its deteriorating state.

The investigation revealed that the building was illegally occupied by hundreds, with makeshift shacks in corridors, bathrooms, and the basement. The night of the fire, emergency services discovered that fire extinguishers were missing, and the main fire escape was locked.