LERATO MBHIZA
President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed deep sadness following what he called a “’significant loss of life” as a result of a fire in a residential building in Marshalltown, Johannesburg, in the early hours of Thursday.
The death toll from the fire stands at 74 including children while scores have been injured and are receiving medical treatment.
Ramaphosa offered his deep condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured survivors a speedy and full recovery.
“This is a great tragedy felt by families whose loved ones perished in this awful manner, and our hearts go out to every person affected by this event.
“This incident calls on all of us, from the emergency services and other entities of government to community-based organisations, to reach out to survivors to help restore people’s physical psychological wellbeing and offer all material help residents may need.”
The President also said the government hopes the investigations into the fire will enable communities and authorities to prevent a repeat of such a tragedy or to bring to book any culpable parties.
Johannesburg emergency services confirmed that about 74 were killed and 52 people were injured, all residents of a hijacked building that had turned into a slum.
Gauteng Forensic Pathology Services CEO Thembalethu Mpahlaza said DNA swabbing will be needed to identify the bodies found in the burnt hijacked building.
Action SA leader and former Joburg mayor Herman Mashaba said the tragedy in the Johannesburg CBD could have been avoided, labeling the deaths as culpable homicide.
The ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said they are “saddened by the tragic loss of life as a result of a fire that engulfed a building in the Johannesburg CBD this morning.
“We urge relevant authorities to investigate the cause of this tragedy thoroughly to ensure that this tragedy does not recur. We urge the City of Johannesburg to pay focused attention to the safety of inner-city buildings, including illegal occupation, to prevent similar humanitarian tragedies in future.”
INSIDE METROS