Johannesburg fire: Interviews with an eye witness and rescuer
Death toll now 73 and expected to rise
Johannesburg
Cabinet sends condolences to Joburg fire victims
Cabinet sends condolences to Joburg fire victims
Cabinet has expressed its condolences to the family and friends of the 73 people who died when a five-story building burnt down in Marshaltown, Johannesburg.
The building was engulfed by a fire in the early hours of Thursday morning. At least forty three others were injured.
Responding to questions on the fire, Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, stressed that government has a disaster management center nationally, with provincial disaster management centers and local disaster management centres in municipalities.
“We have first respondents who are fire fighters and medical rescue teams who are currently on the ground working with the City of Johannesburg and provincial government. If they need reinforcement from the national disaster management centre, such assistance is offered.
“On our part as government, the President continues to be updated of the situation but for now it is still in the realm of the local government and the provincial government of Gauteng. We continue to work as an integrated government to make sure that we respond to such incidences,” she said.
The Minister said that without attempting to preempt what would have been the cause of the fire, they will allow the investigations from the relevant authorities to take place and issue them with a report. She said that government will take the necessary actions thereafter. – SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Thu, 08/31/2023 - 12:37
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NGOs respond to being blamed for Johannesburg fire
They say they make sure the law is upheld, while the City of Johannesburg has failed to provide alternative accommodation for evicted people
Building fire tragedy ‘a very difficult lesson’ that must not be repeated: President Ramaphosa
Building fire tragedy 'a very difficult lesson' that must not be repeated: President Ramaphosa
The building fire which claimed the lives of at least 74 people in Johannesburg should serve as a “wake up call” for the urgent need to resolve housing challenges in the inner city, according to President Cyril Ramaphosa.
He was addressing the media at the site of the building – called the Usindiso Building – on Thursday evening.
“We are very saddened as government about the passing of so many people here in Johannesburg. 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.
“We’ve got to [get] to the bottom of what caused this fire. It’s a wake-up call for us to begin to address the situation of housing in the inner city that a building like this…once the lease had expired, it was then hijacked and we need to get on top of this and find effective ways of dealing with problems of accommodation of housing and services in the inner city,” he said.
Swift response
President Ramaphosa said the emergency and social response in the aftermath of the report of the fire in the early hours of Thursday morning was in line with expectations.
He said this demonstrates that the “determination to care for the people of South Africa is…a top priority”.
“I’m told that as soon as the fire was reported at 1:19 in the morning, in ten minutes the firefighters were here. That is a real good and quick response which we must recognise on the part of the province, the city, that they have been ready for calamities and events like this. A response of 10 minutes when such a devastating fire is something that needs to be recognised.
“The sad part is that much as they fought the fire, they were not able to save everyone and some people were saved…but it’s said that we have lost up to 74 people and some of them children who must have died very tragically and this is the type of death that we never wish on anyone.
“The ministers, the MECs and the province and the city are working now full out to make sure that those who need assistance from accommodation to trauma counselling to hospitalisation are being looked after,” he said.
Rooting out criminality
The President addressed the fact that the Usindiso Building belongs to the City of Johannesburg but was hijacked by “criminal elements” who prey on those in desperate need for accommodation.
“The lesson for us is that we’ve got to address this problem and root out those criminal elements because it is these types of buildings that are taken over by criminals who then levy rent on vulnerable people and families who need and want accommodation in the inner city.
“There needs to be law and order in the inner city. The initiatives that we are embarking on through our security forces…one of those, working with the city and with the province, we are going to ensure that we root out all criminal elements and restore the livelihoods of people who live in the city,” he said.
President Ramaphosa emphasised that when dealing with buildings such as the Usindiso Building, government must carefully balance the constitutionally mandated right to housing with dealing with criminality.
“We are not standing here to shift blame and to pass blame on anyone. And if anything, we are all responsible for the calamity that has occurred and we need to take it in [our] stride and say, yes this should never have happened, yes we should be learning a lesson and sometimes these are very difficult lessons that have been sparked off by loss of life.
“But nonetheless, this is a lesson and yes, I repeat, a wake-up call because we don’t want to see a repeat of what has happened here. So therefore, we need to look at…the regulations, the laws and everything.
“We have achieved a great deal. Our constitutional construct has given all of us a right that we’ve always yearned for. But we’ve always found that we go through a number of processes as we try to do the right thing. At the same time, there’s either too many delays, too many detours that then make it difficult for us to do the right thing at the right time,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Thu, 08/31/2023 - 20:02
239 views
Burnt Joburg building was hijacked
Burnt Joburg building was hijacked
The building in which 74 people died as a result of a fire belongs to the City of Johannesburg but was “invaded and hijacked” some years ago.
This is according to City of Johannesburg city manager Floyd Brink who was addressing the media on Thursday afternoon.
“I wish to…confirm that the affected building belongs to the City of Johannesburg. It is a building that was previously leased to the provincial Social Development Department and used as a shelter for abused women. At the conclusion of the lease, some challenges were encountered with the occupants and as a result of the hostilities and stalemate, the building was invaded and hijacked.
“In October 2019, the City through its Group Forensics and Investigation Services raided the building and as part of the operation realised the arrest of over 140 foreign nationals by Home Affairs and a suspect was incarcerated and charged for illegally collecting rental from tenants at the building. The case is with SAPS and no update is immediately available at this stage,” Brink said.
The 74 people confirmed to have died in the blaze include 24 females, 40 males and 10 with undetermined gender because they were burnt beyond recognition. Of these, 12 are children.
The city manager told the media briefing that the city is working to wrestle back control of hijacked buildings in the area.
“Let me at this stage express our condolences to the families of the deceased and hasten to add that all efforts are being put in place to provide the families and all affected with the relevant social and psychological support through the City’s Disaster Management and Social Development department.
"Our Social Development Department has deployed 16 social workers to provide assessment, trauma counselling and psychosocial support.
“As earlier stated, this is a tragic event and incident and one that is unprecedented given the number of lives lost. We will do our best to ensure that we act diligently in investigating the fire and equally, in our pursuit to reclaim hijacked and illegally occupied buildings in the city,” Brink said.
Survivors
More than 50 people have been injured with many others displaced and Brink said three emergency accommodation sites have been identified for survivors and those affected.
These sites are:
- Hofland Recreation Centre in Bez Valley
- Ekhaya shelter in Hillbrow
- Impilo shelter in Fairview / Jeppestown
“After 72 hours the Human Settlements Department will advise on where they will be taken to once all logistics and related verifications have been finalised. At this stage, we believe a total of 200 or more families were residents at the building.
“At this stage, Fire Safety has commenced with investigations into the cause of the fire and has been part of the rescue operation from the morning. There is at this stage no preliminary reports.
“As the City we appreciate the assistance that we have received thus far and we continue to coordinate all efforts via the Joint Operations Centre of the City in response to this disaster,” Brink said.
The K9 unit of the South African Police Service is expected to be deployed to inspect the building to find any additional bodies or body parts.
The call centre numbers for assistance about missing family members are:
- 0800 203 886
- 011 355 3048
- 011 241 5707 - SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Thu, 08/31/2023 - 18:50
149 views
Survivors of horrific Joburg building fire share their stories
“I tried to go back to find my wife but the entrance was on fire”
Call for swift arrest of suspects behind councillors’ murders
Call for swift arrest of suspects behind councillors’ murders
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube has called on the police to leave no stone unturned to catch the attackers and killers of councillors in the province.
The call follows the recent attack of National Freedom Party (NFP) councillor Mphathiseni Manqele from Ward 4 in KwaNongoma, who was attacked by a suspected hitman.
The suspect was apprehended by the community who handed him over to the police.
Manqele’s attack was followed hot on the heels by the murder of an African National Congress (ANC) Msunduzi Local Municipality Councillor, Mabhungu Mkhize, who was killed last Friday.
Speaking at the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature hybrid sitting on Thursday, Dube-Ncube said drastic measures need to be taken to curb the murder and attack of councillors in the province.
“The killings of councillors are senseless and barbaric, and have no place in our society. As government [we] are not going to tolerate such violence and will do all in our power to bring the perpetrators to justice.
“We call on the police to work swiftly so that the perpetrators are brought to justice. We also urge the communities to work with law enforcement authorities to prevent such crimes from happening,” Dube-Ncube said.
Dube-Ncube has conveyed condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Mkhize, and wished Manqele a speedy recovery.
Multi-stakeholder crime summit
Giving an update on the outcomes of the multi-stakeholder crime summit, held on Tuesday to discuss crime fighting strategies, Dube-Ncube reported that various crime issues were discussed, with participants highlighting how crime chase away investors from the province.
The summit, which was convened by the Department of Community Safety and Liaison, in collaboration with the Office of the Premier, was attended by representatives from government, the private security sector, civil society, and religious organisations.
Dube-Ncube said, the summit participants also considered ways to improve community safety and to build trust between the police and the public.
The summit was a follow-up on the commitments made during the State of the Province Address, where provincial government pledged that each provincial department will set aside R10 million, earmarked to curb and conquer crime in the province.
“One of the key collaborative areas with the private security sector emphasising the effective use of the Community Policing Forum (CPF) as a pivotal link between the community and the police, involving the KwaZulu-Natal Crime Prevention Association (KZN CCPA), an organisation formed by amalgamating community-initiated associations with a shared goal of combating crime, and also to use technology used by the private security sector,” Dube-Ncube said.
Condolences to Gauteng fire victims' families
Meanwhile, Dube-Ncube has send her deepest condolences to the people of Gauteng for the tragic fire that engulfed a Johannesburg building in the early hours of the morning, and reported to have claimed 73 lives with several others injured.
“We are saddened and we will continue to pray for all the survivors and wish them a speedy recovery,” the Premier said. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Thu, 08/31/2023 - 14:58
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Ramaphosa mourns significant loss of life in Marshalltown fire tragedy
President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his deep sadness at the significant loss of life inflicted by a fire in a residential building in Marshalltown, Johannesburg, in the early hours of today, Thursday, 31 August 2023.
By 08h30 today, the reported death toll stood at 73, while scores more are injured and receiving medical treatment.
President Ramaphosa offers his deep condolences to the families of the deceased and wishes injured survivors a speedy and full recovery.
The President's thoughts are also with households and individuals who have lost their accommodation and possessions in this incident.
The President said: “This is a great tragedy felt by families whose loved ones perished in this awful manner, and our hearts go out to every person affected by this event.
“This incident calls on all of us, from the emergency services and other entities of government to community-based organisations, to reach out to survivors to help restore people's physical psychological wellbeing and offer all material help residents may need.”
President Ramaphosa hopes the investigations into the fire will enable communities and authorities to prevent a repeat of such a tragedy or to bring to book any culpable parties.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency: Republic of South Africa.
President mourns loss of lives in fire tragedy
President mourns loss of lives in fire tragedy
President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his deep sadness at the significant loss of life inflicted by a fire in a residential building in Marshalltown, Johannesburg.
The fire in the early hours of today claimed 73 lives with several others injured; while at least some 141 families have been displaced.
In a statement on Thursday, President Ramaphosa offered his deep condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured survivors a speedy and full recovery.
The President’s thoughts are also with households and individuals who have lost their accommodation and possessions in this incident.
“This is a great tragedy felt by families whose loved ones perished in this awful manner, and our hearts go out to every person affected by this event.
“This incident calls on all of us, from the emergency services and other entities of government to community-based organisations, to reach out to survivors to help restore people’s physical and psychological wellbeing and offer all material help residents may need,” the President said.
President Ramaphosa hopes the investigations into the fire will enable communities and authorities to prevent a repeat of such a tragedy or to bring to book any culpable parties. – SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Thu, 08/31/2023 - 14:25
100 views
African Conservation Awards Finalists Announced
This year, the announcement of the winners of the prestigious African Conservation Awards will be held at the Southern African Wildlife College on 16 September 2023 and hosted by the Game Rangers Association of Africa (https://www.GameRanger.org/).
The Awards will take place after a regional event of the Wildlife Ranger Challenge, a Pan-African initiative which will see ranger teams across the continent compete against each other in a 21km race, carrying 22kgs on their backs! The Southern African Wildlife College is a perfect venue to host both these important events on the ranger calendar.
Each organisation and individual that has been shortlisted has shown remarkable determination to succeed when the odds have often been stacked against them. Conservation areas continue to face many challenges, including limited resources and working against criminal syndicates. Despite this, remarkable people continue to do amazing things for wildlife and the communities who benefit from it.
“The African Conservation Awards showcase extraordinary people doing extraordinary things for nature. It is our privilege to give them the recognition they so richly deserve. Well done to all the nominees who continue to inspire us with their dedicated contribution to conservation. We look forward to celebrating their exemplary efforts!” Andrew Campbell, Chief Executive Officer of the Game Rangers' Association of Africa.
60 nominations from 11 countries across Africa were received this year. What is also very encouraging to see is the increase in nominations of female rangers which resulted in half of the finalists in the Field Ranger and Game Ranger categories being female. We are also excited to see the different countries across Africa represented among the finalists. Highlighting the quality of nominations this year, we have a “Highly Commended” acknowledgment in each of the four categories. Although these are not finalists, they deserve special mention and must be applauded.
The finalists for this year's African Conservation Awards, listed in alphabetical order below, are:
Field Ranger:
- Givemore Bako, Senior Ranger and Head Rhino Monitor of Anti-Poaching Tracking Specialists, Savé Valley Conservancy, Zimbabwe
- Nkateko Letti Mzimba, Sergeant of Black Mambas Unit, Olifants West Nature Reserve, South Africa
- Reginah Smith, Corporal of the Rhino Protection Unit, Pilanesberg Game Reserve, South Africa
Game Ranger:
- Amos Gwema, Principle Investigation and Security Officer, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, Zimbabwe
- Orlat Ndlovu, Head of Ranger Services, Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, South Africa
- Petronella Chigumbura, Deputy Ranger Supervisor, Akashinga, Zimbabwe
Conservation Team:
- Majete Wildlife Reserve, Malawi
- Wildlife Action Group, Thuma Forest Reserve and the Dedza Salima Escarpment Forest Reserve, Malawi
- Zinave National Park, Mozambique
Conservation Supporter:
- African Pangolin Working Group, South Africa
- Joseph Serugo Ssalongo, Honorary Wildlife Officer, Uganda
- Rhino Man, South Africa
Highly commended nominations by the judging panel for their excellent work were given to Field Ranger Owenyo Alphonse (Uganda) and Marine Ranger Tima Dago (Kenya); Game Rangers Ali Hassan (Kenya) and Simon Ewoi (Kenya); EWT Soutpansberg Rangers (South Africa) for Conservation Team and Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital (South Africa) for Conservation Supporter.
These awards are hosted annually by the Game Rangers' Association of Africa (GRAA) and are made possible with the generous support of sponsors CNEI. His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco, who is committed to the protection of endangered species through the support of his Foundation, is the Patron of the African Conservation Awards.
The winners of each category will be announced on 16 September at SAWC where they will be celebrated by their ranger colleagues.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Game Rangers Association of Africa.
Contact persons:
Louise de Bruin
info@gameranger.org
Casey Pratt
casey@loveafricamarketing.com
Please join us on social media here:
Facebook: https://apo-opa.info/3ElcHze
Instagram: https://apo-opa.info/3EkEuzF
Information:
- African Conservation Awards: https://ConservationAwards.Africa/
- Game Rangers Association of Africa: https://www.GameRanger.org/
- Sponsors for the event: CNEI
- Patron: His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco
- Tagline: Recognising a wide range of exceptional individuals and organisations
and raising awareness of the amazing work they do. - #ACA2023 #AfricanConservationAwards2023
GRAA background:
The Game Rangers' Association of Africa (GRAA) is a non-profit organisation, founded in 1970 which provides support, networks and representation for rangers across Africa. The GRAA is a proud member of the International Ranger Federation (IRF) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) where it serves as the voice of the African ranger.
Winde sends condolences to families of Johannesburg fire tragedy victims
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde has sent his deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who died in the devastating building fire in the Johannesburg city centre this morning. “I am stunned and devastated by this awful tragedy, not only for Johannesburg but for the whole of South Africa, It has saddened …
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Joburg inner city building fire claims at least 73 lives
Joburg inner city building fire claims at least 73 lives
The death toll from a fire which engulfed a five story building in the Johannesburg inner city in the early hours of Thursday morning has risen to 73, with some 43 people injured.
The cause of the fire is currently unknown.
Addressing the media outside the building, City of Johannesburg MMC for Public Safety, Mgcini Tshwaku, described how residents inside the building battled to escape the blaze.
“There are burnt bodies beyond recognition, I have never seen that sight before. Seventy three of them have been confirmed to be dead. One of the things that was an issue was that inside the building, it looks as if there was a gate which was closed so they could not go out. The main reason here that there’s a high death toll is that there are a lot of partitions and gates [inside the building].
“They said people were screaming and wanted to get out but they couldn’t. Many burnt bodies were found actually [stuck] at that gate. On the bottom floor, they had an informal settlement sort of. There were a lot of people who had built using highly flammable material,” he said.
The MMC said officials from the city’s disaster management have been dispatched to begin relief efforts.
“On our side, we’ve got the team which is coming in. The disaster [team] is here. We are going to give them the matrasses and all of that. The housing [department] is here as well meaning that we are going to get them alternative accommodation at this point in time.
“It is very traumatic. I have never seen bodies like that – burnt beyond recognition. There were also kids that were there. There’s a 12 month old kid that got burnt. It’s a very sad scene,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Thu, 08/31/2023 - 09:44
81 views
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Ghanaian chocolate targets South Africa’s health and wellness market
Ghanaian artisanal chocolate brands went to The Plant Powered Show in Johannesburg to explore new African commercial linkages for their plant-based chocolate and cocoa.
About 70% of the world's cocoa is produced in Africa – mostly Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana. But in the global chocolate industry, their market share is less than 6%.
Fairafric Ghana aims to change this narrative by adding value to Ghanaian cocoa beans at origin and to offer ‘made in Ghana' chocolate to European and African markets, boosting local job creation and incomes along the way.
Meanwhile, Amonu Chocolates is working hard to develop the demand for locally produced chocolate in Ghana. Their products are proudly wrapped in traditional Ghanaian Akan Adinkra symbol designs to promote choco-tourism and honor the role Ghana has historically played in the cocoa sector.
It is in this spirit that the two brands travelled to The Plant-Powered Show in Johannesburg, South Africa, earlier this month with support from the Ghana Export Promotion Authority and the International Trade Centre's Alliances for Action, under the Netherlands Trust Fund V programme in Ghana. Some 5,000 people attended the event, offering a key visibility opportunity to the growing brands.
The goal? To tap into the health and wellness market and bring Ghanaian products to a new African market.
Aimed at those looking to live and enjoy a healthier, more conscious and sustainable lifestyle with a smaller environmental footprint, the three-day Plant Powered Show features top chefs and mixologists hosting live cooking demos and masterclasses. Health and wellness experts also spoke, while a marketplace filled with plant-based food, drink and lifestyle products were available to test, sample and buy.
Leveraging the ‘made in Africa' movement to enter the South African market
Chef Greg Henderson, executive chef of the Royal Portfolio Collection, specializes in indigenous foods and the culinary heritage of African products. At the show, he gave a masterclass on product development and was excited to have the opportunity to work with Ghanaian chocolate. Fairafric and Amonu Chocolates' plant-based products were successfully integrated into his recipes, with 30 class participants looking on.
‘The question I've been asking myself throughout this event is, why didn't we do this a long time ago?' said Michael Marmon-Halm, managing director of Fairafric Ghana. ‘South Africa is clearly a great market for Fairafric, and we're gearing up to establish our made in Africa brand there soon.'
Both brand representatives attending the event mentioned that the show opened their eyes to the demand for African origin chocolate products. They received encouraging feedback from consumers at their stand, which attracted marked interest from the show's crowds. A highlight of the event was the Chefs Association of South Africa expressing interest in potential collaborations.
Amonu Chocolates is well-established in Ghana, and currently stocked in London by My Runway Group (Black in Carnaby). They aim to increase their export ranges and activities. Attending The Plant Powered Show will go a long way in extending their export footprints in South Africa, said Lucia Acheampong, Amonu's general manager.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Trade Centre.
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Coca-Cola Africa welcomes current Vice President of Operations in South Africa
Coca-Cola Africa has welcomed Sergio Vieira as the new Vice President of Franchise Operations, South Africa. Vieira joins the Coca-Cola Africa Operating Unit (AOU) (http://www.Coca-ColaCompany.com/) in Johannesburg.
Vieira replaces Phillipine Mtikitiki, who has taken on the role of Vice President of Franchise Operations, overseeing Italy and Albania.
Vieira's mission is to hone the company's strategic direction, grow and develop the business, strengthen partnerships, and build new relationships across South Africa, Eswatini, and Lesotho.
Luisa Ortega, Africa Operating Unit President at Coca-Cola Africa, said, "Sergio has a critical role in creating a highly dynamic environment that drives high performance and in building the next generation of leaders. His experience and expertise are invaluable as we continue to grow and expand our operations, and we look forward to the contributions he will make to our company."
Vieira has worked in the Coca-Cola system for over 20 years, joining Brazil's bottler's commercial function in 2002. In 2016, he took on the role of Marketing Director at Coca-Cola Hellenic, Nigeria. A key highlight was the awards for the best Growth Project for EMEA and the best Revenue Growth Management project globally.
Vieira said, "I am thrilled with the appointment and with the move to South Africa with my family. The business in South Africa supports a strong brand portfolio, has a talented team, and an enviable reputation as a leader in FMCG. Coca-Cola in South Africa is well-positioned and has achieved significant strides, such as being certified as a top employer in the food and beverage category by the Top Employer Institute, strategically positioning it for far greater success in the future."
Vieira has a bachelor's degree in business from Universidade Federal de Pernambuco in Brazil, specialising in finance, marketing, and innovation. He is passionate about football, loves learning about new cultures, is committed to leading the equity and female agenda, and enjoys travelling with his wife and children.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Coca-Cola.
For Media Enquiries
Lindiwe Zikalala:
lzikalala@coca-cola.com
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