Residents worry about their safety after fire breaks out
No one seems willing to help the residents of Ormonde.
A fire broke out in the Ormonde servitude between the Shakespeare Avenue and Xavier Street bridges along the M1 North on August 22.
Thulani Bhengu, a resident in the area, said their homes were in danger because Sasol gas pipelines were underground where the fire broke out.
“Luckily, emergency services came in time to extinguish the fire. No one cares about us, and this is very dangerous. Our homes could have been buried if the fire caught one of the pipes. I called Sasol’s security, but no one answered. We don’t know what started the fire,” he said.
In January, Bhengu raised a concern about dumping in the same servitude, which he believed must be taken care of by Sasol (gas pipeline), the Johannesburg Road Agency (adjacent to the M1 North), Johannesburg City Power (pylons) and the City of Johannesburg (environment and city parks).
The Southern Courier tried to engage these entities because Bhengu said none of these agencies were doing anything despite efforts to alert them to the problem.
In January, the following replies were received:
• Johannesburg Road Agency: “The dumping is on vacant or open land, which is outside the ambit of the JRA.”
• Joburg City Parks: “This would be for the JRA and Pikitup.”
• Pikitup: “We are still waiting for the depot to provide input.”
• Ward 54 Clr Stuart Marais, the JMPD and City Power did not respond.
• Nomia Machebe, the manager of media and communications at Sasol, said Sasol regularly conducted safety campaigns for fenceline communities and businesses to preserve the integrity of the infrastructure and ensure the safety of lives.
