EFF statement on the deadly fire in Marshalltown
31 August 2023
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is pained by the fire outbreak at a 5 storey building in Marshalltown, Johannesburg this morning. The blaze started in the early hours, but the cause of the fire is still unknown.
Currently, the death toll stands at seventy-three (73) people, with more than fifty (50) people sustaining injuries, including cases of smoke inhalation. While firefighters promptly responded to the incident and successfully extinguished the flames, search and recovery efforts continue at the site and sadly the death toll continues to rise.
It is crucial to highlight that this fire stands as a consequence of decades of blatant negligence and lawlessness. It is the direct outcome of years of permitting dilapidated structures to exist within the Johannesburg CBD, devoid of adequate upkeep or any form of vigilant oversight.
The EFF has always insisted that addressing the problem of hijacked and dilapidated buildings, which pose a palpable risk to human lives, requires the provision of temporary housing for residents in such structures, as government seeks to find and establish permanent low-cost housing alternatives.
Additionally, the EFF has been at the forefront of calling for a thorough audit of building ownership and landlord-ship in the city, as many of these buildings which have been hijacked or are in a state of collapse have been abandoned, leased to negligent institutions or allowed to be inhabited while not meeting basic safety requirements.
Further, it was the EFF in the City of Johannesburg Municipal Council in November 2017, through a motion, that called for all dilapidated and hijacked buildings to be expropriated without compensation and be placed under the custodianship of the City, and for 10% of these buildings to be utilised for student accommodation.
It is as a result of this successful motion that many buildings have been recovered, and a process of rehabilitation of these buildings has been underway, premised on the relocation of those who inhabit them.
The EFF is therefore concerned by the involvement of NGOs, with no capacity to evaluate building conditions, who impede on the relocation of individuals from these deteriorating structures through questionable legal actions.
This situation, therefore, raises suspicions about the ownership and financial backing of these NGOs that advocate for inhabiting clearly uninhabitable buildings at any cost, even if it results in tragic loss of life, as we have witnessed.
The EFF extends its heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. We also extend our wishes for a swift recovery to those who have been injured.
We are pleased by the presence of Johannesburg's MMC for Public Safety, Dr. Mgcini Tshwaku, who is an EFF representative, at the scene. We urge Dr. Tshwaku and his fellow appointee, MMC of Health and Social Development Ernie Makhafola, to allocate all available resources to aid in addressing this distressing situation.
We call on all EFF structures and public representatives to avail themselves and their resources to assist those who have been affected by this tragedy.
Issued by Sinawo Thambo, National Spokesperson, EFF, 31 August 2023
