Property owners and managers in Johannesburg assert that the recent CBD building fire resulting from hijacking wasn’t unexpected in the least. Images-X@AdvoBarryRoux
Rising fires in hijacked Johannesburg buildings tied to hazardous electricity
JPOMA’s general manager, highlights two common causes for these fires: illegal electricity connections and fires ignited for cooking due to power disconnection.
Property owners and managers in Johannesburg assert that the recent CBD building fire resulting from hijacking wasn’t unexpected in the least. Images-X@AdvoBarryRoux
The number of fatalities in the Marshalltown, Johannesburg, hijacked building fire has risen to over 70. City of Johannesburg Emergency Services verified that the fire began on Thursday, August 31, during the early morning hours.
According to IOL property owners and managers in Johannesburg expressed no surprise at the recent CBD building fire.
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Last week, another hijacked building on Kerk and Troye streets experienced a fire on 24 August. Angela Rivers, JPOMA’s general manager, highlights two common causes for these fires: illegal electricity connections and fires ignited for cooking due to power disconnection.
The majority of fires in hijacked buildings occur for two reasons
In a specific building in Marshalltown, Johannesburg CBD, hijackers constructed shacks on the floors. In other hijacked buildings, office dividers make flammable walls.
The buildings’ internal setup makes everything prone to fire, which is worsened by uncollected trash piling up as an additional fire risk.
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Rivers explains that occupants of such hijacked structures often excavate beneath and link utilities from adjacent buildings, posing fire risks.
“An earlier incident demonstrated this danger when a power disruption during load shedding disconnected a city block’s electricity, taking a week for fire authorities to discern, fortunately avoiding ignition.”
It degrades the infrastructure of the City
“Hijacked buildings not only affect landlords and tenants, but seriously degrade the infrastructure of the City. The City also loses money due to rates, water, and electricity services not being paid.”
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Rivers notes frequent fires in hijacked structures. Today’s blaze affected a historic City of Joburg building, formerly the Government’s ‘Passes’ structure, later a Usindiso Ministries women’s shelter.
Hijackers displaced the shelter’s management, endangering residents and halting the clinic operated within due to escalating hijack risks.
In December, JPOMA and other groups like Hillbrow eKhaya City Improvement District, LeGae La Rona City Improvement District, Johannesburg Homelessness Network, Urban Space Management, and Gauteng Precinct Management Association, jointly communicated to the City of Joburg.
ALSO READ: Johannesburg CBD fire: ‘there are shacks inside the building’
They asserted that hijacked properties had transformed into shelters for audacious and ruthless criminals, openly perpetuating their actions without fear.
The groups proposed that saving the City requires swift action on hijacked buildings through private sector involvement.
They highlighted these necessary steps:
- Enhance visible and efficient policing by JMPD and SAPS.
- Strictly enforce by-laws, especially those concerning illicit traders, late-opening bars, and public substance abuse.
- Promptly repair broken street lights.
- Strengthen regular day/night raids.
- Inspect and shut down illegal cross-border transport hubs lacking permits, relocate them.
- Address homelessness urgently.
- Conduct bi-weekly interdepartmental meetings to monitor plan progress.
