Orrin Singh22 January 2024 | 14:00

Commissioner Street fire: CoJ screening process underway for emergency accommodation

Two people were killed after the fire was started allegedly by a woman following a domestic dispute.

Commissioner Street fire: CoJ screening process underway for emergency accommodation

JOHANNESBURG - A screening process is underway to determine who qualifies for temporary emergency accommodation following Sunday’s building fire on Commissioner Street.

The two-storey building was gutted by a fire in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Two people were killed after the fire was started, allegedly by a woman following a domestic dispute.

The City of Johannesburg has begun a screening process to establish how many of those displaced by Sunday’s CBD building fire qualify for temporary emergency accommodation.

Speaking at the scene of the gutted building on Monday afternoon, Joburg Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda said the majority of the 160 people affected by the fire were South Africans.

"We have 28 Lesotho foreign nationals, we have about four Tanzanians and we have about two that come from Zimbabwe."

He said those displaced had been provided with shelter at the Gazini Sports Grounds.

"They have been taken to Gazini Sports Ground where the City of Joburg has provided about 22 tents. They’ve provided about 10 ablution facilities and water tankers.

The woman arrested for allegedly starting the fire is facing charges of arson and will appear in court on Tuesday.