Sheltered Marshalltown fire survivors flag extortion by Denver hostel dwellers

JOHANNESBURG - Some Marshalltown building fire survivors who’ve been placed at temporary shelters in Denver are pleading with the City of Johannesburg’s intervention after residents from a nearby hostel allegedly raided the area.

They were displaced when the five-storey Usindiso building in the city centre was gutted by a fire in August 2023, killing more than 70 people.

The survivors alleged that residents from the Denver men’s hostel, located near the shelters, want to charge them a monthly fee of R300 to live there, despite it being the municipality’s property.

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While the City of Johannesburg built the shelters to house the victims of the fire, kingpins, or "indunas", from the hostel were allegedly trying to take control of it.

A resident told Eyewitness News that "indunas" used locks to seal some of the shelters, and threatened to kick people out if they didn’t pay rent.

“We once had 24-hour security presence, but we no longer have that now. The hostel residents do as they please because the gates aren’t even secured.”

However, City of Johannesburg spokesperson Nthatisi Modingoane said the municipality is addressing the issue.

“People must come forward to the councillor or the police and report such incidents.”

Meanwhile, the man who confessed to setting the Usindiso building on fire is set to appear in court on Thursday morning.