It was not a happy Easter Friday for residents in Bez Valley when a house burnt down in 7th Avenue on 14 April.
According to Ward 66 Councillor Carlos Da Rocha, more than 25 people were left destitute after the house burnt to the ground.
According to eyewitnesses, the fire started in the early hours of Friday morning. It is alleged that the fire started in the garage, but the cause of the fire is not known. Although there were no fatalities the occupants lost all their belongings.
According to Da Rocha, there were seven families living in the house. “The owner of the house has been renting out rooms in the house. This is overcrowding and puts everyone who lives on the property in danger,” Da Rocha explained.
He said he is very concerned about the overcrowding in his ward because this is not the first time such a fire happens. He said landlords are taking advantage of people in need of accommodation.
“The house was meant for a family of seven, not seven families. The overcrowding put a strain on the house,” Da Rocha said.
Disaster management was notified and they assisted the survivors with food parcels, blankets and shelter. The community also came to the aid of the survivors and assisted with clothes and basics needs.
Da Rocha said, “I would like to thank the community and the church for coming together and helping the survivors because they were left with nothing.”
He also expressed his disappointment after Emergency Management Services allegedly took too long to arrive at the scene. “They need to improve their service. It is bad to take so long to respond to a fire when we are right next to the station,” said Da Rocha.
When Joburg East Express visited the burnt down house on 18 April they found builders busy rebuilding.
The families who were living in the house were given back their months’ rent with the help of Da Rocha to find alternative accommodation. Joburg East Express sent an enquiry on 18 April and again on 20 April to the Emergency Management Service, but did not receive any response.
Read: Family needs help to fix up home in Bez Valley after son accidentally sets it alight
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