Johannesburg, South Africa – President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his sadness over the deaths of at least 74 people in a fire at a residential building in Marshalltown, Johannesburg.
The fire broke out on Wednesday night and quickly spread through the building, which was reportedly overcrowded and poorly maintained. Many of the victims were trapped inside and died of smoke inhalation.
President Ramaphosa visited the site of the fire on Thursday and met with survivors and families of the victims. He described the fire as a “tragic” event and said that the government would investigate the cause of the fire.
“We are very saddened as government about the passing of so many people here in Johannesburg,” President Ramaphosa said. “This is unprecedented. Johannesburg has never had an incident like this where so many people die as a result of a fire in the centre of the city. This is tragic, this is very sad and I want to pass my condolences and that of the government to the families of those who have passed on and those who are still in hospital.”
The President also called for action to address the housing situation in Johannesburg. He said that the building where the fire broke out had been hijacked after the lease had expired, and that this was a wake-up call for the government to find effective ways of dealing with the problem of housing in the inner city.
The fire is the deadliest in Johannesburg since 2003, when 61 people died in a fire at a hostel in Hillbrow. The government has promised to provide financial assistance to the survivors and families of the victims.
The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.
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