A fire at the Home Affairs building in Germiston was allegedly triggered by a petrol bomb on Tuesday.- A petrol bomb is said to have ignited a blaze at the Department of Home Affairs building located in Germiston, Gauteng.
- The roof fell, potentially damaging the crucial first floor, where it is believed that staff store important documents, according to News24.
- Officials from Home Affairs confirmed that the office will remain shut.
A fire erupted at the Department of Home Affairs building in Germiston, Gauteng, on Tuesday, reportedly after an individual threw a petrol bomb at the building, causing the roof to collapse.
Protesters from Pharoe Park were observed returning to their flats from the nearby Home Affairs building after they had been removed from their previous residences.
These individuals reportedly cleared out belongings such as refrigerators and clothing from the homes of people they suspect to be foreign nationals.
Major-General Fred Kekana, Gauteng’s deputy police commissioner, confirmed that two individuals have been detained.
William Mogale Ntladi, a spokesperson for the City of Ekurhuleni disaster and emergency services, mentioned that initial reports indicated petrol bombs were thrown onto the building.
“But we will let law enforcement investigate.”
He additionally noted that there had been a protest in the city center earlier, although the motives behind it have not yet been clarified.
“That will be investigated.”
He stated that the upper section of the two-story edifice was ablaze and the roof caved in while he was present at the site.
Firefighters were summoned to extinguish the fire.
“At this moment, we are unaware of the total extent of the damage, but there will be smoke and carbon emissions for the time being,” Ntladi added.
Closure of Home Affairs Offices
Mamokubung Moroke, the provincial manager of Home Affairs, announced that the offices would be shuttered.
“We recognize that clients have been arriving since dawn to collect their documents and submit applications, but we currently lack access to the facility.
“We still need to assess the full extent of the damage, but presently, our information is limited.”
A petrol bomb allegedly caused a fire at the Department of Home Affairs building in Germiston on Tuesday, causing the roof of the building to collapse.
Numerous individuals were evicted in Germiston on Tuesday morning.
Numerous individuals were evicted in Germiston on Tuesday morning.
A petrol bomb allegedly caused a fire at the Department of Home Affairs building in Germiston on Tuesday, causing the roof of the building to collapse.
Resident Carol Hlatswayo expressed her distress, stating she had resided in the flats for many years, and the eviction was challenging.
“This is very traumatizing for my 12-year-old child. I am on temporary disability. This house is under my name. This situation is devastating. I don’t want to say government is failing us, but they need to look at housing matters with a keen eye.”
Another evicted student, who chose to remain anonymous, shared feelings of despair regarding the eviction process.
“This is unbelievable. I had some awareness of the eviction; I found out over the weekend. There was insufficient time to prepare. I managed to pack a few items and assumed they would allow us time.
“In Germiston, we have been trying to find rooms, but options are limited. Some are too costly for us to manage. We will see where we end up, but we are unsure. I have classes tomorrow (Wednesday).”
Hloniphile Molefe, another resident, communicated to News24 their sadness over the situation involving the eviction.
“I feel unwell. Many of us have lost our homes, and others must find a place to stay.
“We have been paying rent to our landlord, but we were not informed that he was not paying the City. We would never jeopardize our lives by neglecting rent,” Molefe stated.
Rent Payments
A resident who took over her late aunt’s home claimed she had been consistently paying rent based on what she thought were legitimate contracts.
“Most of us were not involved in taking over these properties illegitimately. Several of us were instructed to formalize rental agreements for these homes, and we genuinely began renting. My aunt passed away; she was the actual occupant, so I naturally assumed responsibility for the family residence.
“We have continued to pay since I moved in because we formalized an agreement at the [municipal] offices to make payments,” she explained.
Numerous individuals were evicted in Germiston on Tuesday morning.
Numerous individuals were evicted in Germiston on Tuesday morning.
Numerous individuals were evicted in Germiston on Tuesday morning.
She further asserted that her name was not listed among those scheduled for eviction.
“Not everyone here is avoiding payment. They should have arrived with an accurate list. I possess proof of payments,” she mentioned.
The resident also criticized how the evictions were executed, stating that authorities arrived “forcefully” with no prior notice or consultation.
“If people are going to be removed, they should have discussions, but no one was afforded that opportunity,” she concluded.
