Refugees die in Jozi inferno

ng the 12 deceased persons were five Zimbabwe nationals including a heavily pregnant woman and eight Malawi citizens. Further investigations by CAJ News also revealed that 18 other people, mainly from Zimbabwe, Malawi and Congo DR were in critical condition at Baragwanath Diepkloof and Hellen Joseph hospitals. ZPF President, Pastor Steven Chiadzwa, claimed there were many derelict buildings in Johannesburg illegally accommodating hundreds of desperate foreigners. He deplored the conditions in which Zimbabweans and other foreigners perished in the Union Garage building fire. “I went to see the scene of the accident and the state of affairs is pathetic. Most of the deceased were burnt beyond recognition,” he said, adding that there were over 800 people living at the house using two toilets. Further investigations revealed that some dilapidating buildings such as George Gor in Jeppestown, Vodacom and Union Garage House were illegally accommodating several hundreds of desperate foreigners, especially Zimbabweans, Congolese, Malawians and Sudanese. Another building between King George and Leyds Streets was housing over 250 blind Zimbabweans. In an interview with CAJ News on Saturday, Inspector B.S. Khumalo of Jeppetown Police Station, said the police were still investigating how many South African nationals died in the inferno. “At least eight Malawians have been confirmed dead, and an accurate figure of Zimbabweans who died in the building is yet to be established. There were also South Africans who sheltered at the Union House Garage,” said Inspector Khumalo. One of the survivors, a Malawi national, Joseph Chiyembakezo, said: “Our gate is locked at 8 pm for security reasons. When the building caught the fire, we could not escape the fire hence some burnt to death due to the delay of rescuing teams and the ambulance.” Zimbabwe Political Victims Association (ZIPOVA) Welfare Officer, Joshua Mambo-Rusere blamed the South African government for not caring about the refugees. “Instead of providing decent shelter, the government is busy arresting and detaining innocent people at Lindela. I am holding the South African government responsible for the 12 deaths. Had it not been for the government’s negligence, all the deceased persons could have not died. We have a government that does not care about human life,” fumed Rusere. – CAJ News