Midrand fire victims demand temporary accommodation
The victims of the Urban Village complex in Midrand have called on the landlord to urgently find temporary accommodation for them following the fire.
One person was killed and hundreds left homeless after the blaze erupted on Tuesday night.
Scores of residents were camping outside the fire ravaged building, with no temporary accommodation arrangements by the landlord.
One of the tenants, Tebogo Seloane, who has been staying in Midrand for four years, said most of his personal belongings were destroyed in the fire.
"Mafadi should have a plan as a profitable private company, not taking state resources and wasting it. They should be here making sure that these people get what needs to be gotten for the next few days until end of month.
"They should get them back their deposits as soon as possible, and then have them move out.
"Have them book us in a hotel or book us in some accommodations where we can sleep, until next week, then month end and everybody get their deposits and look for new places.
"But telling them that they'll give them their deposits today and then they must make their own plans is rubbish. It's rubbish. It makes no sense!" he added
Meanwhile, Acting Johannesburg Mayor Jack Sekwaila, said they are still struggling to get hold of the owner of the property which is operated by Mafadi Property Management.
Sekwaila, together with Human Settlements MMC Mlungisi Mabaso, assessed the damage and vowed to cooperate with the landlord in assisting the victims.
"We are still struggling now, I must indicate, to locate the owner. We are told that Mafadi is the actual administrator of the property, but it's not the owner.
"So now we can only engage further once we get the owner because, I think s a city we can discuss with him so that we assist each other, to meet each other halfway,” he said.
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