Joburg fire: No need for Lesufi’s inquiry into the cause when we know who is to blame

1 September 2023

ActionSA believes that there is no need for Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, to set up a Committee of Inquiry into the cause of the devastating building fire in Marshalltown, Johannesburg, when the facts are clear over the circumstances that led to the blaze. We view this move as another PR stunt by the ever-grandstanding ANC Gauteng Chairperson, who tends to use state resources for his gimmicks.

When ActionSA President, Herman Mashaba, was Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, he repeatedly warned that unless the city and province urgently addressed the hijacking of buildings, it would be a disaster waiting to happen. Mashaba was the first mayor in South Africa to pioneer a project to reclaim these buildings.

But when his term ended these projects came to an abrupt end with city and provincial officials allowing these buildings to fall into further decay - creating the inhumane circumstances and overcrowding that led to the blaze.

ActionSA therefore maintains that it is the state who should directly be held accountable for allowing the breakdown of the rule of law in the Johannesburg inner city. They were aware of the crises for many years but chose to do nothing, and unless urgent action is taken another disaster is waiting to happen.

ActionSA believes that 29 years democracy into democracy, it is completely unacceptable that people are forced to live in buildings that are unsanitary and clear fire danger, while they are illegally extorted by mafia-like landlords. We remain committed to addressing the nationwide issue of hijacked buildings and will present solutions to this crisis at our upcoming policy conference from 12 to 14 September 2023.

No country can flourish where lawlessness flourishes, and ActionSA is resolute to return the rule of law to all our communities, including the Johannesburg inner city. Our people, as we have seen in Marshalltown yesterday, simply deserve better.

Issued by Funzi Ngobeni, ActionSA Gauteng Chairperson, 1 September 2023