THE City of Joburg as well as the Gauteng government have been told to pull up their socks and attend to the dire needs of fire victims who now find themselves living in poor houses.
On Friday, 26 April, angry residents and Marshalltown Fire Victims Campaign embarked on a march to the offices of the Gauteng premier and mayor in the inner city of Joburg.
The protest included individuals who were once fire victims.
Speaking during the protest, Mametlwe Sebei, president of the General Industries Workers Union of South Africa and coordinator of the Marshalltown Fire Justice Campaign said the march was a call to the city and province to provide decent, affordable and free accommodation for the people of the City of Joburg, starting with the survivors of the fire in Marshalltown.
He said this can only be done if the city refurbishes dilapidated buildings and turns them into accommodation as a means of dealing with the growing housing backlog.
“Millions of people continue to be without housing and living in conditions of degradation, particularly in informal settlements within the inner city
“We want these people to be afforded decent accommodation compatible with the rights and dignity of everyone in the country,” he said.
Almost five months ago, the City of Joburg moved victims of the Marshalltown fire from temporary shelters to an industrial area called Denver Informal Settlement, which consists of 100 shack-like one-roomed corrugated iron structures.
On various occasions that Daily Sun visited the area, residents expressed how they have been subjected to the worst living conditions.
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When it rains, the passages are filled with mud and in some instances, water floods into their homes to an extent where they now use bricks as barricades to prevent water from seeping into their shacks.
In January, the city manager Floyd Brink indicated that they were aware of the situation and several entities were on the ground to resolve the matter.
But he could not give the exact time period during which the victims would be kept in such conditions. But this is not enough for residents who are seeking answers.
"The city needs to tell us what their plans are. We've been placed in tents in an open sports ground. It's almost like a dumping site. Not even their dogs can stay there.
“We need these officials to pull up their socks. We hope government can place us in better places before the 29th of May,” said Mxolisi Tshabalala, a victim of the Marshalltown fire.
These were the same sentiments shared by Sfiso Mambo, who claimed they live in limbo with no idea of where they are going to be placed.
Accepting the memorandum on behalf of the premier's office, General Lucky Moyo said they would acknowledge the memorandum within 48 hours and will then proceed to give a directive thereafter.
