A woman who survived a 2021 Johannesburg CBD building fire that killed nine people says the government has been slow to respond to the survivors' plight.
“We lived in tents for a year," said Thobile*, who lived in the Kaserne building in Jeppestown where the fire occurred.
"Ice would build up on the roof of the tent and in the morning it would fall on the floor. It was the most difficult time of our lives. We are surprised today that the people who survived the Marshalltown fire are going to be moved into a shelter so quickly.
“The president of the country never bothered to come and check on us after the fire but with Marshalltown, he was there in hours. Our lives have not improved much, even with the shacks that they have built us,” she said.
In May 2022, the Kaserne building was imploded as it was considered unsafe. About 150 were then left homeless and moved to tents that were erected on nearby soccer grounds.
The city said the new area would be serviced with water, sewerage and electricity.
Last year, the City of Johannesburg moved the people from tents into corrugated iron structures and has begun connecting electricity to their shacks.
Thobile lives with her disabled granddaughter and three adult sons.
But life has not been easy since moving into the shacks.
“The municipality has installed lights outside to make the place safe but we don’t have electricity yet in our shacks. People have started illegally connecting their shacks which is the same thing that started the fire at the old building.
“There is also no control as to who lives in this area. There are thugs among us. We hear gunshots so often because zama zamas have also moved into the settlement,” said Thobile.
Another resident, Busi Mabokwe, said she appreciates that progress that has been made in making life easier for the settlement.
“The municipality gives us water every day through a tanker. We are now waiting for our prepaid meters for electricity. I am grateful that we no longer live in tents as life was difficult there,” Mabokwe said.
She said she moved into a dilapidated building to look for economic opportunities.
“We come to such buildings because we cannot afford to pay rent in flats. People must understand that we are looking for economic opportunities in Johannesburg and we cannot afford the proper flats like others. It is not that we like these places," Mabokwe said.
The conditions of people living in Johannesburg's inner city buildings have been highlighted after 76 people died when a fire ravaged a building in Marshalltown on Thursday.
* Not her real name
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