By Everson Luhanga
Johannesburg’s MMC for public safety Dr Mgcini Tshwaku painted a graphic picture of the state of hijacked buildings when he took the stand at the commission of inquiry into the Usindiso building tragedy on Monday 26 February.
A fire at the building in Marshalltown on 31 August 2023 killed 77 people and injured 88 others. It was one of the deadliest fires in South African history.
Tshwaku highlighted the dangerous and unhealthy conditions in the city’s hijacked buildings.
“In some of the buildings, there were piles of rubbish. In some instances, there were dead cats and dogs on the rubbish piles,” he said.
Tshwaku visited hijacked buildings, starting with the notorious Venini Court in Hillbrow, which is infamous for criminal activities.
“When we got to Venini Court, we were met with old women and children who lived in deplorable conditions.
“Inside those hijacked buildings [it is] dark, dangerous and sewage runs every day. There are destitute women and children.”
Tshwaku told the commission that the people who lived at the hijacked former fire station in Kruis Street were aggressive towards the city’s inspectors.
He said the fire station was sinking and he was worried that this posed a danger to those staying there.
The survivors of the fatal Marshalltown fire were relocated to zinc shacks close to the notorious Denver men’s hostel in the Johannesburg CBD. The site was bought by the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department for R45-million and was originally intended to be used as a vehicle pound.
Before Tshwaku took the stand, Eric Raboshakga – an acting executive director of the city’s development planning department – told the commission that the Usindiso building had not been compliant with the city’s by-laws.
He said, however, that the city is now obliged to provide alternative housing for people who stay in such dilapidated buildings.
“We cannot demolish buildings before providing them with alternative accommodation. That’s where the city finds challenges. It is an expensive exercise,” he said.
Raboshakga said a budget will be allocated to the city’s Human Settlements Department to provide alternative accommodation for people living in these run-down structures so that the city can demolish them.
Tshwaku will be back for further cross-examination by the commission on Tuesday.
Pictured above: Johannesburg’s MMC for public safety Dr Mgcini Tshwaku at the commission of inquiry hearing on Monday.
Image source: Everson Luhanga
