Mayor Herman Mashaba says that problems with hijacked buildings have kept him awake at night.
An investigation is under way after a fire that broke out in a building in the CBD of Johannesburg on 16 August 2018. Image: Mia Lindeque / EWN
JOHANNESBURG – Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba says it is painful to change the living conditions of people see occupied buried buildings, such as those in the CBD where a fire broke out.
The cause of Thursday's fire has not yet been established, but residents have questioned the timing and claimed that it happened only two hours after the authorities overtook the building.
#JoburgFire Firefighters put out the fire.
This comes a week after it became known that the city of Joburg has only 14 functioning fire engines for the entire municipality. KYM pic.twitter.com/ISGLqkWfhJ
– EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) August 16, 2018
EWN Reporter @MiaLindeque is in Johannesburg CBD where a residential building is located well busy. KYM pic.twitter.com/k8BVQjbsIz
– EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) August 16, 2018
#JoburgFire Firefighters arrive. KYM. pic.twitter.com/QJTYNyCVYl
– EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) August 16, 2018
Only a few minutes after the building was declared safe by the emergency services team, the residents ran down the stairs to see if they could save their possessions.
Many were determined to resettle their homes despite the overwhelming stench of smoke still in the air.
One man wonders what the timing of the fire is, which left the scene shortly after the police, JMPD and city officials.
"It was the first time they entered these flats, and after they left, about 30 minutes later, this happened."
Mashaba says that problems with hijacked buildings have kept him awake at night.
"You look at the living conditions of our poor people who are actually paid to pay."
While firefighters worked to put the fire down, extraordinary scenes unfolded, with women on an adjoining roof with their baby's jumping in a desperate attempt to escape.
One of the babies was taken to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.
VIEW: Job shop owners left in despair after fire
(Edited by Shimoney Regter)
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