'We pay people to install electricity illegally for us' - resident of fire-ravaged Jeppestown building

JOHANNESBURG - Mop-up operations are underway in the Johannesburg CBD after a building burnt down, resulting in the deaths of four people.

The building caught fire during the early hours of Sunday morning and was extinguished.

It’s understood that the three-storey structure located in Jeppestown was abandoned, with occupants erecting an informal settlement inside.

READ: Deadly Joburg CBD fire: Building abandoned, informal settlement erected inside - Mulaudzi

Johannesburg Emergency Management Services said the blaze may have been caused by illegal electricity connections.

Residents call the building ‘enkanini’ which is a Zulu term for a place of stubbornness.

Eyewitness News understands they moved into this building in 2016 after it was abandoned by a private business.

The Johannesburg municipality made attempts in the past to evict them, however, their stubborn resistance has seen them always returning to the building.

A resident told Eyewitness News that with limited housing, making the decision to live in an abandoned building made more financial sense.

“There are a lot of flats that don’t pay rent, from Hillbrow to everywhere and there are illegal electricity connections everywhere. We pay people to install electricity for us, illegally.” 

Former resident, Professor Ngidi said the building had no running water.