Nearly 200 residents displaced following deadly Joburg CBD fire
Two people died and at least four others were injured in the Sunday morning blaze.
A fire ravaged an apartment building on Commissioner Street on 21 January 2024, leaving two people dead and at least four others injured. Picture: X/@PublicSafetyMMC
JOHANNESBURG - Almost 200 residents have been displaced after a Sunday fire gutted their apartment building on Commissioner Street in the Joburg CBD.
Two people died in the blaze and at least four others were injured.
One suspect has been arrested in connection with the incident.
The City of Joburg said it is working on finding temporary accommodation for the residents who have now been left homeless, some of whom were left with only the clothes on their backs.
Johannesburg Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda said they have reached out to the national government for assistance.
"They would have to assist us financially in terms of the facilities we would need to allocate to them [residents]. A screening process will be undertaken once we have secured facilities where we can send them to."
Gwamanda said the screening process will help determine the immigration status of the residents.
After it emerged that the building was illegally occupied, the Mayor said the city is working to address the issue of hijacked buildings.
In 2023, another fire gutted a hijacked building in the city centre, killing 77 people, including 12 children.