By Everson Luhanga
A tragedy shook residents of Johannesburg, where 76 people perished in a fire that gutted a five-storey building in the inner city.
But a few streets away from the disaster scene is a famous eatery called Kwa Mai Mai market.
It is a place where people chill, drink, and order their buy-and-braai. While on the other side of the block, families of fire victims waited anxiously for authorities to brief them on how they should go about identifying the bodies of their loved ones, the Kwa Mai Mai market was abuzz.
People sipped their expensive whiskeys while othersenjoyed their favourite cold beers.
There was loud music playing from their cars. Some couldn’t resist the sounds of Amapiano songs being played as they took to the dance floor showing off their moves.
When the Scrolla.Africa team visited the market, well-dressed guests with happy faces had come to enjoy and celebrate life.
A man who identified himself as Mandla said he knew about the tragedy. “I heard about it on the radio news. I sympathise with the victims and their families. But I am here to have lunch and chill with friends. I am all about vibes,” he said.
Mandla, who had a bottle of Hennessy on the bench he shared with three of his female friends, said he loves coming to Kwa Mai Mai market for its good food and vibes.
For a journalist like me, it was a relief to see happy people for a change as, just streets away, there were only sad faces to be found.
Maybe after the horror coverage of the tragedy, the good vibes at Kwa Mai Mai is just what the doctor ordered!
Pictured above: Kwa Mai Mai market, where people celebrated life just blocks away from the fire’s losses
Source: Everson Luhanga
