Councillor assures Jeppestown fire survivors they won't 'stay in tents forever'

JOHANNESBURG - Johannesburg ward 61 councillor Themba Mkhize has assured survivors of the Jeppestown building fire, that they won't be stuck in temporary shelters for a long time.

About 200 people who survived the deadly building fire on Sunday, are currently being accommodated in tents on a local sports ground.

The temporary shelters also have survivors from a previous building fire tragedy, who have been living there for over seven months, sparking fears from Jeppestown survivors that a similar fate awaits them.

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While grateful for having a place to sleep, survivors of the Jeppestown fire say the tents they are living in are cold and uncomfortable.

Johannesburg Ward 61 councillor Themba Mkhize says this is a temporary arrangement.

Mkhize says a vacant government owned building in Jeppestown has already been identified.

"What’s happening now, we busy with the Human Settlements Department in Johannesburg of where we will move them. We still waiting for a final report before we start the process of relocating them because they cannot stay in the tents forever.”

The councillor says the numbers in the tents have dropped as people are making their own alternative plans.

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