By Everson Luhanga
The bodies of the victims of the Marshalltown fire, which killed over 70 people on 1 September last year, are still lying unclaimed in state mortuaries.
The fire destroyed the five-storey Usindiso building, injured many others, and left many families without homes.
The DA has criticised the City of Johannesburg for not handling the situation properly after the disaster.
Mervyn Cirota, the Gauteng DA’s shadow MEC for Human Settlements, accused Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s government of not doing enough to ensure that the victims receive a proper burial.
Cirota also mentioned that some survivors from neighbouring African countries are still being held at the Lindela Repatriation Centre in Krugersdorp, waiting to be deported. The DA plans to visit the centre to see the conditions for themselves.
Cirota was concerned that South African nationals who survived the fire are now homeless and living in terrible conditions.
He said, “Only a cruel and irresponsible government would stand by while this disaster continues.”
The DA has been asking the Gauteng Human Settlements and Cooperative Governance departments, along with the City of Johannesburg and the Johannesburg Development Agency, to create a plan to deal with hijacked buildings and homelessness in the inner city.
However, Cirota said that nothing has been done.
He also said that Johannesburg’s new mayor, Dada Morero, admitted that dealing with hijacked buildings is more difficult than expected, showing that there is no clear plan in place.
The DA is demanding that the provincial and city agencies inform Gauteng residents of their plans to prevent future fires.
They also want these agencies to work with the Department of Home Affairs to identify the unclaimed bodies so that families can bury their loved ones.
Additionally, the DA is asking the provincial Department of Social Development to identify the Marshalltown fire victims and provide them with the social services they need.
Meanwhile, more than 100 survivors who are temporarily housed in Denver on land bought by the JMPD have recently received a new solar power system.
Pictured above: The scene of the Marshalltown fire.
Source: Everson Luhanga
