Marshalltown Fire Inquiry: Councillor to Testify Over Allegations of Acting as Landlord in Hijacked Building

In a tragic event that shook the citizens of Johannesburg, a fire erupted in August 2023 at 80 Albert Street in Marshalltown, claiming the lives of 76 individuals. The spotlight now turns to a City of Johannesburg councillor, who stands accused of using the deteriorating city-owned building as a makeshift tenement. The councillor is scheduled to present testimony at the commission of inquiry, diving into the building's past and the series of events leading to the catastrophe.

Dating back to 2018, the Department of Social Services conducted an audit inspection and decreed that the building—once leased to Usindiso Ministries, an NGO caring for abused women and children—was uninhabitable. Despite this, the Johannesburg Property Company (JPC) considered a proposal for the Johannesburg Social Housing Company (Joshco) to purchase the building; however, this did not materialize due to financial constraints.

The building, which previously served as an apartheid-era pass office, remained informally occupied beyond the expiry of Usindiso's lease in 2013, as it meandered into a state of disrepair. In the ensuing period of neglect, residents made desperate attempts to create a community in the dilapidated facility.

Testimonies before the commission painted a grim picture of the living conditions within the building. Daniel Mboza, a former resident, recounted how he was warned by the councillor in question that the building "was dangerous and could collapse at any point during a stampede." This same councillor later authorized the erection of shacks within the premises, ensuring temporary housing for an increasing number of occupants. Mboza's assertion that the councillor "was clearly a landlord" suggests a complicated power dynamic, raising concerns about responsibility and oversight.

As personal accounts continue to emerge, details of residents turning into sub-landlords and the exploitation of vulnerable foreign nationals suggest a larger systemic issue. S’phamandla ‘Mas’gewuza’ Sibiya, another ex-resident, attested to the initiation of discussions with the councillor prior to moving in, hinting at an organized structure behind the illegal occupation.

This building's saga throws light on the broader concern regarding hijacked properties in Johannesburg and highlights potential complicity or negligence by city officials. With the first part of the inquiry examining the spark of the devastating fire and one individual, Sithembiso Lawrence Mdlalose, already charged with 76 counts of murder, the commission's upcoming sessions are poised to delve deeper into the matter.

The city officials' involvement in property hijackings and their role in the mismanagement of these buildings will be under intense scrutiny. Given the arrest and subsequent release of another councillor related to a separate hijacked property case, the importance of these inquiries is undeniable.

All eyes are on the commission, led by chairperson Justice Sisi Khampepe, as the Johannesburg community seeks answers and justice for the immense loss of life. While the implicated councillor's identity has been withheld pending testimony, the testimony may reveal critical insights into the inner workings of the building that became a tomb for so many.

As the inquiry continues, with the councillor’s testimony eagerly anticipated, the city's commitment to combating the scourge of building hijackings and ensuring the safety of its vulnerable residents remains a pressing issue.