HOURS after a fire gutted a building in Marshalltown, Joburg, President Cyril Ramaphosa made his way to the scene.
This is in the wake of the devastating news of the alleged hijacked building comprising of shacks housing almost 80 people had burnt down.
The burnt building, identified as Usindiso, saw at least 73 people killed and 52 injured.
Addressing the media after the site visit, Ramaphosa said this was a wake-up call to deal with the hijacking of buildings.
Ramaphosa also touched on the loopholes in the eviction laws, which see the process delayed and ultimately see an increase in these hijacked buildings.
He said Parliament needs to look at this so they can execute the rights of people without going through too many regulatory impediments.
Burnt beyond recognition
At this stage, 61 people were treated at various medical facilities in and around the city including Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital , Helen Jospeh Hospital, South Rand Hospital and Tembisa Hospital.
Sixteen have been discharged, while 17 remain admitted.
The death toll currently stands at 73, with 66 adults and seven children.
Johannesburg City Manager Floyd Brink confirmed this as the also highlighted steps to be taken to help victims of fire that claimed 73 lives this includes shelters in and around Gauteng.
He 72 hours the Human Settlement department will then advice where they will be taken for logistics and verification.
At this stage more than 200 families were residents of the building Brink added
Once a apartheid pass office turned into debilitated building housing shacks.
The building turned into shacks according to Heritage Portal started if as a centre for controlling black people's lives in Johannesburg during the early stages of apartheid.
The building was ultimately changed into a women's hostel and renamed Usindiso Women's Shelter, which is what we know it as today.
But what was to become of this shelter is a heartbreaking story as it now makes its name in the headlines as a hijacked building used to house shacks.
Take accountability Joburg
The City of Johannesburg owns the building, but it was leased to to a Non-Profit-Organisation.
The city said they attempted to engage the Socio-Economic Economic Rights Institution of South Africa (Seri), to evict illegally occupying residents, but their attempts have been unsuccessful.
Seri claims the building was a shelter for women and children, operating as a shelter for abused women and children until its neglect by the city led to its disrepair and "hijacking."
"The fire at Usindiso is an example of how the city deals with its shelters, which are occupied by many of Johannesburg's poorest and most vulnerable residents," Seri said.
While the organisation has denied having litigated against the City of Johannesburg, shifting the blame to NGOs speaks to the municipality's unwillingness to take responsibility for the inner-city housing crisis.
