Latest Joburg CBD fire victims won’t be allowed back into the building – Brink

City of Johannesburg manager Floyd Brink has told The Citizen residents devastated by a fire in the CBD on Friday morning will not be allowed to return to the building, even if this is challenged in court.

The fire broke out on the first floor of a three-story hijacked building in which residents had set up shacks. No injuries were reported but some were being treated on the scene for smoke inhalation.

Residents said the building housed about 1 000 people, some of which did not pay rent.

Speaking on the scene, Brink said occupants of the building would be evicted.

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“We are anticipating this will be challenged but we do not care. There is no way we are going to allow them to go back in there. Something needs to be done.”

He said the building would be declared unsafe and sealed.

He claimed the City was “under siege” and shared his suspicions fires in the city were being started on purpose.

He later said the building was privately-owned, with the owner believed to be overseas, but had been hijacked and a “landlord” was collecting rent of about R1,200 from residents.

Brink said an initial investigation found illegal electricity and water connections in the building.

Human settlements officials were on their way to the scene to assess and arrange for temporary accommodation for those affected.

This is a developing story