Close to 70 bodies have been retrieved in a building in the Johannesburg CBD. Image: Twitter.
Johannesburg fire survivors fear being deported [WATCH]
Some survivors of Johannesburg’s horrific fire refused to leave the scene and refused to accept shelter as they fear being deported.
Close to 70 bodies have been retrieved in a building in the Johannesburg CBD. Image: Twitter.
Johannesburg fire survivors told reporters on Friday, 1 September that they are wary of accepting shelter from the South African government as they fear being deported.
ALSO READ:Johannesburg fire tragedy taken over for illegal housing kills 74
JOHANNESBURG FIRE VICTIMS SPEAK OUT
eNCA reported on Friday, 1 September that some of the Johannesburg fire survivors did not want to be placed in shelters and were reluctant to leave the scene as they feared being deported back to their home countries.
“We don’t want to be taken anywhere. If we get the help here, at least we know we are safe. If they take us to shelters, they might arrest us and deport us,” said one migrant survivor.
iHarare reports that Emmanuel Smith, who is a community leader from Nigeria also revealed: “Our people are scared. They think if they take any help, they will be sent back home. So they prefer to stay here, even if conditions are bad.”
The death toll had risen to 76 after two more victims died in hospital at the time of publishing this article.
ALSO READ: Johannesburg fire: Kenny Kunene blames NGOs for death of 73 people
SOCIAL MEDIA REACT TO SURVIVORS REFUSING SHELTER
@SisMokgaetje: “South Africa is in trouble. So, they’ll rather stay in the Jozi streets than go to welfare shelter or go back home like they seem not to care about their lives and well-being as long as they’re within South Africa.”
@Motiv88r: “If you were in their shoes, you would have jumped fence to SA. There’s nothing left for them to do in their nation or in this world for that matter since everything is burnt down. We don’t choose nationality, pity they got a disadvantaged one. Spare a thought for them.”
@IndividualRSA: “The minister blames the fire on dead white people. The victims blame the fire on the fire.”
@Galela15505225: “They must go back to their countries. They have a country and their governments! SA is not responsible for poor foreigners when it can’t even cope with its own problems. What were they doing in South Africa in the first place because they are definitely not bringing any skills SA doesn’t have.”
@Brettbenraphael: “They live in deplorable conditions here yet fear going home? Is it because they’ll be mincemeat if they hijack buildings in their own home countries?”
@Themba_Taylor: “Why are smooth talking them into going to a shelter instead of the border?”
ALSO READ: Johannesburg fire: Death toll increases to 73, cause still unknown
ALSO READ: Johannesburg CBD fire: ‘there are shacks inside the building’
