Sihle Dube, a resident of downtown Johannesburg, woke up to a bang at 4 a.m. one day and found smoke billowing into his apartment, making it unbearable to breathe. He tried to escape through his window but slipped on a satellite dish and blacked out. He was rushed to the hospital along with many others, but more than 70 people lost their lives in the deadly fire, revealing a problem in Johannesburg’s city center. Gangs and extortionists have taken over abandoned buildings, turning them into havens for drugs and crime. Angela Rivers, the general manager at the Johannesburg Property Owners and Managers Association, claimed that there are 57 such buildings in the central business district alone, most of them owned by the city or provincial government.
These buildings have become centers of drug trafficking and lawlessness, often resulting in fires due to illegal electricity connections and the use of gas burners and candles. The cause of the recent blaze has not yet been determined, but the building was one of those taken over by criminal syndicates. It was originally leased to a charity providing shelter for women but had stopped operating due to a lack of funds. Consequently, the building became filled with drug users and impoverished migrants.
Johannesburg city authorities acknowledged the issue and expressed their intention to regain control over hijacked buildings, but specific plans are awaiting council approval. President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasized the need for cities and municipalities to address the living conditions of their residents. The severe housing shortage in South Africa, exacerbated by decades of apartheid and an influx of migrants, has created a situation where people feel compelled to live in overcrowded and dangerous buildings.
Residents often fear seeking help due to the risk of deportation or threats from landlords. Despite complaints from residents, evictions have proved ineffective and led to homelessness. Human rights groups have advocated against evictions, arguing that they only exacerbate the problem. The municipality attempted to evict the residents of the building discussed in the article in 2019 but faced legal challenges and ultimately abandoned the attempt without taking further action.
In the wake of the fire, family members feared for the safety of their loved ones residing in the building. Sihle Dube’s sister urged him to move, but he remained in the building. Thankfully, Dube survived the fire and called his sister from the hospital to assure her of his safety.
The tragedy highlights the dire living conditions and the urgent need for authorities to address the issue of abandoned buildings in Johannesburg. Without intervention, these buildings will continue to serve as hotspots for crime and endanger the lives of the vulnerable individuals seeking shelter within them.
($1 = 18.8361 rand)
(Writing by Tim Cocks; Editing by Alexandra Zavis and Ros Russell)
Credit: The Star : News Feed
