Survivors of the deadly Usindiso Building fire are taking the City of Johannesburg to court, accusing it of failing to prevent the tragedy that claimed 76 lives in Marshalltown in August 2023.
The group, represented by activist Alfred Moyo, says the City must compensate them for the trauma, injuries and loss of belongings they suffered when the hijacked, City-owned building went up in flames.
Moyo told Newsnote on Sunday that survivors want the metro to be held accountable. He says it is disappointing that the findings of the Khampepe Commission of Inquiry have not been implemented more than a year after the fire.
“The calls action is about the compensation for the victims,” he said.
“We want the City to compensate everyone who lost their loved ones and those that suffered during the fire.”
The Commission, led by retired Justice Sisi Khampepe, found that the Johannesburg Property Company (JPC) — the entity responsible for managing the City’s buildings — was negligent and failed to enforce bylaws or act on the dangerous conditions inside the property. It recommended that JPC be held responsible for the disaster and that the City urgently secure unsafe, hijacked buildings.
Survivors argue that the City’s inaction before and after the fire has left them with no alternative but to pursue legal action. Many are still living in temporary accommodation with no clear plan for permanent housing.
Newsnote was unable to get the comment the City at the time of publication.
