Ramaphosa: Deadly Joburg inferno 'a wake-up call'
President Cyril Ramaphosa
says the deadly Marshalltown fire in the Joburg CBD is a wake-up call for the
city's housing officials.
The president made the remarks on a visit to the inferno scene on Thursday evening.
"We have to get to the bottom of what caused this fire, it's a wake-up call for us to begin to address the situation on housing in the inner city that a building like this.
" I am told it used to be a home for abused women and children and the lease was expired and then it was hijacked."
At the scene, Ramaphosa told the media that assistance was being rolled out to the survivors.
The death toll from the inferno that gutted the building that was illegally occupied rose to 75, while 50 people were injured.
"The sad part is that as much as they fought the fire they were not able to save everyone, and some of them children, who must have died tragically. Those who have lost their homes will be catered for, those who need assistance from accommodation to trauma counselling, to hospitalisation, are being looked after."
The cause of the fire is still being investigated.
READ: Trapped residents fled through windows in Joburg inferno
The Gift of the Givers says it's assisting more than 400 survivors.
The organisation's Imtiaz Sooliman says they supported crews of firefighters on the ground on Thursday and then drew up a list of those affected.
"We are waiting for the city and city management to allocate a place of shelter, right now there are 420 on the list. Once they are given a space then we will move in with all the requirements. This will include mattresses, blankets, water, hot meals, sanitary bags, diapers and later on food parcels for when people have some kind of place to go back to."
