More than 400 people stranded after deadly fire at building in Joburg’s central business district

JOHANNESBURG – More than 400 people have been stranded following a fire in an abandoned and hijacked building in Johannesburg.

The three-storey structure, located in Jeppestown, caught fire in the early hours of Sunday morning, killing four people.

Residents told Eyewitness News the building looked like an informal settlement with shacks and partitions erected inside.

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Hanau Street in Johannesburg was once a business district with many businesses, from clothing factories to printing works.

However, over the past decade, many companies have abandoned their buildings in the area.

After being evicted from another building, hundreds of people forcibly occupied the abandoned structure which burned on Sunday.

Long-time resident Tholakele Dlamini said many women and children were stranded.

“We want to know where the government plans to install us, because there is a government building that has been vacant since 2019 and we want it to be opened today.”

Residents said it was not the first time the building had caught fire, adding that fires were usually caused by illegal electrical connections running through it.