Jeppestown Fire
By Lerato Mpembe
In the early hours of Sunday morning, a tragic fire broke out in an abandoned building in Jeppestown, Johannesburg, claiming the lives of four people and leaving three others injured. The fire, which began around 1:15 am, has shocked the local community and raised concerns about the safety of abandoned buildings in the city.
According to the City of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS), the fire erupted in a three-storey building, where the victims were reportedly trapped by the rapidly spreading flames. Emergency responders, who arrived at the scene shortly after the fire was reported, managed to rescue several individuals, three of whom are currently receiving treatment for smoke inhalation. One of the injured is in critical condition and has been transferred to Charlotte Maxeke Hospital, while the other two are being treated at Hillbrow Clinic.
Robert Mulaudzi, spokesperson for Johannesburg EMS, confirmed the fatalities and stated that the cause of the fire is still under investigation. Preliminary reports suggest that an illegal electrical connection might have sparked the blaze, a common issue in many of Johannesburg’s abandoned buildings. Mulaudzi explained, “At this stage, the cause of the fire is believed to be an illegal connection. This is an abandoned building, and they are using all sorts of materials to try and divide this building using partitions and sheet metals to create space so that they can live in buildings like this.”
The building, which was illegally occupied, had been partitioned using materials like ceiling boards and curtains, which may have contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. The structure’s poor condition and the makeshift living arrangements have raised alarms about the dangers faced by those living in such environments.
City of Johannesburg Public Safety MMC, Dr. Mgcini Tshwaku, commended the swift response of the emergency services. He took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express his gratitude to the firefighters, saying, “@MTshwaku commends the @CityofJoburgEMS for their prompt response and effective management of the #fire that erupted in an abandoned building in #Jeppestown, which tragically led to the death of four individuals and left three others injured.”
As the investigation continues, authorities are working to determine the exact cause of the fire. Mulaudzi mentioned that the South African Police Service (SAPS) has taken over the investigation and will be examining the site for further evidence. Additionally, City Power has been called in to address the illegal electrical connections in the area, which are believed to be a significant hazard not only in Jeppestown but across Johannesburg.
This incident comes nearly a year after a devastating fire at the Usindiso Building in Johannesburg, which claimed 78 lives.
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