Hundreds of foreigners who occupied a hijacked building that caught fire in central Johannesburg early on Thursday morning are roaming the streets in disbelief.
Some have lost their loved ones while others have had to witness as their belongings were swallowed up by the raging fire.
In tears, shock and pain, Malawian Shimamu Mapepa told Sunday World that it will take a while to accept the death of her loved ones.
“I’m hurt and confused,” said Mapepa before breaking into a groan.
“I don’t know if my mind will ever register what just happened here. I guess I need time before I can comment.”
According to Johannesburg emergency management services spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi, the hijacked building had been turned into an informal settlement.
An estimated 80 shacks had been erected inside the building on the corner of Alberts and Delvers streets.
Mulaudzi said the cause of the fire is being investigated.
An eyewitness Thandolwenkosi Manzini said the survivors had to jump out of the five-storey building in a bid to save their lives.
He remembers hearing a commotion and people shouting “fire” at about 1am.
“I live in the building across, and I woke up when I heard people crying for help. People were jumping out of the building from the fourth, third and second levels of the building.
“We couldn’t help because we were also scared. There was no electricity when the fire started,” said Manzini.
He said witnessing the fire was traumatic, especially because he could not offer help to save the people trapped inside.
“Not only did I see people jumping out of the building, but I also saw people being carried out of the building burnt beyond recognition. It wasn’t a nice sight to see.”
City of Johannesburg mayor Kabelo Gwamanda said his administration will always demonstrate that it wants to resolve issues affecting the city’s residents.
“It is unfortunate that we have to keep responding to situations of this nature, where a building previously used for purposes of rehabilitating society was now being used for a different purpose,” said Gwamanda.
He said the building was previously used by a non-government organisation to help homeless women.
At least 73 people have been confirmed dead and 52 others were admitted to hospitals across the city.
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