Panicked residents watched in horror as smoke bellowed from a fifth-floor unit at Karachi Court, one of Actonville’s 11 municipally owned housing complexes, on March 10.

Scrambling to extinguish the blaze, residents ran between the seven storeys in search of a working fire hydrant.

“The hydrant on the fourth floor was the only one that was working,” said one man, who wished to remain anonymous.

“We stretched the hose as far as we possibly could and were able to contain the fire before it spread to neighbouring units. This incident could have left all of us homeless.”

Relieved to return to the safety of their homes, residents said that the isolated fire highlights the social rot that threatens their safety on a daily basis.

“The tenant of the affected unit moved out nearly a year ago. Since his departure, the flat has been illegally occupied by vagrants who come here to use drugs,” said another resident, who also wished to remain anonymous out of fear of victimisation.

“The unit has been stripped bare. All electrical and plumbing fixtures, including cupboards, have been sold.

“The security gate has been welded shut on numerous occasions to prevent access to the unit, but they just pry it open and squat here, day in and out.”

Illegal occupation is rife

Ward 29 Clr Imtiaaz Lonaat confirmed residents’ claims that the fifth-floor unit that caught fire, along with 19 others throughout the City of Ekurhuleni’s (CoE) municipal residential stock in Actonville, are currently being illegally occupied and that drug abuse in these units is rife.

“This matter has been reported to the CoE Department of Human Settlements on countless occasions,” he said.

“When rental agreements are terminated and flats become vacant, these units should be made available to new tenants as soon as possible.”

He explained that vacant units are often hijacked by vagrants.

“The department does not act timeously or decisively. In time, everything of value is stripped from the units and sold to scrap dealers.

“When these people are eventually removed and the units are secured, the total repair damage exceeds the council’s budget, and the units become uninhabitable.

“Thus the cycle continues, and legitimate residents of these complexes are forced to live with often dangerous individuals who threaten their peace and safety.”

Vagrants are violent

A resident of Karachi Court for the past two decades, who wished to remain anonymous, said she fears for her children’s lives.

“I grew up with my granny, who has lived here for the past 45 years,” she said.

“Things have just gotten worse. My children are not even allowed in the corridor outside our flat because of the vagrants.

“We know they use drugs. They are unpredictable, violent and scary. I don’t want to put my children’s lives in danger.”

Lonaat echoed these sentiments, saying that resident frustration and fear are palpable.

“We need the department to start acting swiftly,” he said.

“Matters of concern are reported yet, no action is taken. The fire highlights the danger of what could happen if vagrant occupation continues to go unchecked.”

Commenting on the overall living conditions at Karachi Court, Lonaat said that emails, dating back to March 2023, request urgent intervention in maintenance issues, including fire hydrants, sewage and water leaks as well as structural repairs to windows, bannisters and stairs.

“The living conditions are appalling, and the level of deterioration is deplorable,” he said.

“The expense of getting any of these complexes into a decent livable state far exceeds the income generated through rent.”

A request for comment was sent to CoE spokesperson Zweli Dlamini; none was received at the time of publication.

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