City of Joburg contacts neighbouring countries after fire which claimed 76 lives
Tanzanian nationals who were living in the gutted five-story building in Johannesburg have been left in limbo over their future in South Africa.
On Thursday morning, a hijacked building in the Joburg CBD caught fire, killing 76 people and injuring over 50 others.
The City of Johannesburg said it has been in contact with the Embassies of Tanzania, Malawi, and Zimbabwe over the repatriation of bodies.
It is understood most of the building’s occupants were foreign nationals from mainly Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Malawi.
The publication understands that at least five Tanzanian nationals died from the deadly inferno.
Former building occupant Abdallah Salim said he lost five loved ones in the blaze.
Another Tanzanian national, Musa Hamisi, said the five deceased worked in the streets as car guards and selling items to survive.
Hamisi said some family members of the deceased are still undecided over going to the mortuary to submit their DNA for matching with their loved ones.
“I don’t [go to the] mortuary, but I have a process now but it’s a must that we will go because it is my family.”
Johannesburg council speaker Colleen Makhubele said the city is working with the Tanzanian Embassy in efforts to help all those affected.
“They have identified those that have documentation, but it’s lost because of the fire, and they are going to make sure they retrieve that reprint, etc. And make sure that they have it and can go back to work and assisted to come back to society with housing, etc.”
Survivors of the fire are currently being housed at the Hofland Park Recreational Centre.
Makhubele said this was a temporary measure.
-EWN
In other news – Adult film star Wandi Ndlovu opens up on her salary & disgusting treatment at ‘My Body Works For Me’
Popular adult film star and reality TV star Wandi Ndlovu from ‘My Body Works For Me’ appeared on controversial entertainment blogger Musa Khawula’s YouTube channel recently and got candid about some of the things that have left her troubled after starring on the Showmax show.
She also decided to reveal how much she was paid which had netizens pitying her. According to their website, My Body Works For Me reality TV show follows the lives of seven women who work in the entertainment industry. Read More
