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One person has been arrested for arson in connection with the fire that broke out on Sunday morning.
A domestic dispute is believed to have led to a woman allegedly igniting the deadly blaze that engulfed a building in Commissioner street in the Johannesburg CBD.
Two people have been confirmed dead with the exact cause of the fire still under investigation.
According to Joburg emergency services spokesperson Nana Radebe-Kgiba, the fire was spreading quickly affecting different levels of the building because of the combustible material used.
“The fire operation continues at the storey building that was engulfed with flames earlier this morning. Two people jumped from the second floor and three people were rescued from the balcony”, she stated.
City manager Floyd Brink revealed that they are working to address the issue of illegally occupied buildings.
Meanwhile, DA Shadow MMC for Public Safety Michael Sun said the fire prompt safety concerns and a distressing signal for the City.
“While the firefighting capabilities of Joburg EMS will understandably face scrutiny, a critical factor demands immediate attention. The presence of unlawfully occupied buildings in the inner city poses a significant threat.
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“National, provincial, and local governments lack a sustainable strategy to address these hazardous structures and the thousands of vulnerable, yet illegal, occupants within.”
Sun emphasised that strengthening firefighting capabilities through the acquisition of fire engines, equipment, and additional personal should not be a reactive response to fire incidents but an ongoing initiative by the metro.
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