Seven Kaserne shack fire victims identified
The other two were burnt beyond recognition
Seven of the nine people who were killed when a fire ravaged a dilapidated building in downtown Johannesburg have been identified.
Provincial police spokesperson Capt Kay Makhubele yesterday said families of the deceased have been coming forth to identify their loved ones.
“Seven people have been identified. It is clear that their families were able to identify them as they were not part of the ones who were burnt beyond recognition. There are only two who are yet to be positively identified,” Makhubele said.
On Wednesday, nine people, including an infant, died when the building caught fire at about 4am. One of the people died after he jumped from one of the floors to escape the fire.
At least 11 people were injured. The fire is believed to have been started by illegal electricity connection as wires run all over the Kaserne building.
About 200 people were left homeless. They have since been housed in tents, which have been erected on a nearby soccer field.
According to the residents, this was the fifth fire to hit the building since 2016, when the first group of people started building shacks inside the property.
Yesterday, the City of Johannesburg continued to register all the people living in the building and the shacks surrounding it. Johannesburg housing MMC Mlungisi Mabaso said relocating the people is a priority.
“We are registering people that we are placing inside the tents. This is part of the relocation process.
“The plan is to relocate all the people in that place and demolish that building as soon as possible.
“We cannot demolish the building while there are still shacks around it,” Mabaso said.
Sandile Blose, one of the residents who survived the fire, said he lost everything he owned, including important documents such as his identity document.
“I have nothing left in my name. All my stuff was burnt in the fire. I’m left with just the clothes that I’m wearing. I’m confused. I do not know what to do... I really do not know what is next for me now,” he said.
Blose, originally from Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal, has lived in the Kaserne building since 2018. He lived alone.
It has shacks built in it from the basement all the way to the fourth floor.
There are also shacks surrounding the building and taxi drivers use the open space next to it to park their vehicles.