Family of deadly CBD fire victim needs DNA to identify loved one
Two people died and four others were taken to hospital after sustaining injuries during Sunday's blaze.
The fire also left dozens others displaced.
The 30-year-old woman was arrested after witnesses told authorities she started the deadly fire during a heated exchange with one of the building's occupants.
The latest deadly blaze happens as the Usindiso commission of inquiry into a similar fire that claimed more than 70 lives in Marshalltown probes the prevalence of abandoned and hijacked buildings in the city centre.
A relative of one of the deceased victims, Msongelo Mnisi, said he received a call notifying him that his nephew Sizwe Cele had been killed in a fire.
Mnisi said they were told by residents of the Express Building, on the corner of Commissioner and Nugget Street, that a woman set her boyfriend's room alight, but the blaze quickly spread in the densely-packed building.
"They say the boyfriend managed to escape, but these two remained.
"We went to try identifying his body, we couldn't identify him. Now we are headed to central police station to speak to someone in the crime intelligence division. They are burned beyond recognition."
He said they many now have to rely on DNA tests to confirm his nephew's identity
We’re in the Johannesburg CBD where Joburg Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda is visiting the scene of a building fire, on the corner of Commissioner &Nugget Street, that claimed two lives on Sunday. #JoburgFire #JhbFire pic.twitter.com/WvPo2vD3Qk
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) January 22, 2024
Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda, who's administration is under pressure to address the scourge of derelict and hijacked buildings, visited the scene on Monday.
More than 100 families affected by the fire at the Express Building were relocated to temporary accommodation.
Gwamanda said the 22 tents and ablution facilities were provided for the displaced victims at the Gazini Sports Ground, where they will be staying for no more than 72 hours.
At the same time, the city will approach at least three foreign embassies to discuss assistance for nearly 40 migrants who had been living in the derelict building.
"We have been alerted to the fact that we have 28 Lesotho foreign nationals, we have about four Tanzanians, and about two that come from Zimbabwe. As such, we would like to work with their embassies to establish their identities and what assistance their embassies can render followed by a screening process by the Department of Home Affairs."
Johannesburg City Mayor Floyd Brink said the building would be condemned after some of the survivors had been given the opportunity to salvage some of their belongings on Monday.
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