A report on a deadly building fire in South Africa found that city authorities were aware of safety issues with the run-down apartment block at least four years before the blaze occurred. The fire in downtown Johannesburg killed a total of 76 people, including 12 children, and injured 86 others. The building was overcrowded with hundreds of residents living illegally, many of whom were forced to escape by leaping out of windows or throwing small children out in hopes they would be caught below. The fire extinguishers had been removed from the walls and the main fire escape was found to be locked on the night of the fire.
Retired Judge Sisi Khampepe led the inquiry into the building fire and placed blame on the City of Johannesburg for their disregard of the building’s calamitous state. Hundreds were found living illegally in the building, with makeshift shacks erected in the corridors, bathrooms, and basement. Khampepe recommended disciplinary action against the chief executive officer of the Johannesburg Property Company, which oversees the city’s buildings, and called for the building to be demolished, with a memorial plaque erected for the victims. The building’s interior was strewn with waste, contributing to the deadly nature of the fire.
The tragic fire shed light on the decay within parts of South Africa’s biggest city, where many buildings have been taken over by illegal landlords who rent out overcrowded spaces to desperate residents. Often, safety precautions are disregarded in these buildings, leading to catastrophic events like the deadly fire that occurred in downtown Johannesburg. The inquiry also uncovered further shocking details, such as a man’s confession in January that he started the fire to burn the body of a man he had killed on the orders of a drug dealer. The man confessed to the crime and was subsequently charged with 76 counts of murder and arson, adding another layer of tragedy to the already devastating incident.
The report concluded that multiple city authorities, national immigration officials, and police officers were aware of the distressing living conditions in the building before the fire occurred. Despite this knowledge, little was done to mitigate the safety risks at the building beforehand, leading to the catastrophic loss of life. The victims of the fire were burned beyond recognition, and it took authorities weeks to identify the bodies using DNA tests. The fire was one of South Africa’s worst disasters, highlighting the need for stricter safety regulations and oversight from local authorities to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
The findings of the report from the inquiry led by Judge Sisi Khampepe revealed a systemic failure on the part of the City of Johannesburg to address the safety issues at the apartment building before the deadly fire occurred. The neglect of the building’s conditions, in combination with overcrowding and lack of safety measures, created a lethal environment that trapped many residents inside during the fire. It is hoped that the recommendations made by the inquiry, including disciplinary action against responsible officials and the demolition of the building, will lead to higher safety standards and accountability for city authorities in the future. The tragic incident serves as a grim reminder of the consequences of negligence and inadequate oversight in ensuring the safety of residents in urban environments.
