20 Malawian nationals lost their lives in a devastating fire that engulfed a ‘hijacked’ multi-story building overnight in Johannesburg, South Africa. This tragic incident resulted in a total of 74 fatalities, the South African Authorities said Thursday. Thembalethu Mpahlaza, the head of forensics services in Johannesburg’s Gauteng province said a total of 74 bodies were recovered, 24 female, 40 male and 10 “burnt beyond recognition”.
President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa described the incident as a “tragedy” and ‘a wakeup call’ for the country’s economic hub to urgently tackle the housing crisis in its inner-city areas.
“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.”
“Hijacked” buildings, prevalent in various sections of downtown Johannesburg, are buildings that have been abandoned by their owners and subsequently seized by gangs and criminal inclined groups. These gangs rent out these buildings primarily to immigrants and South African residents who lack the financial resources to secure alternative housing options.
