The leaseholder of the fifth floor unit at Karachi Court, Actonville, that caught fire on March 10, could face charges should investigations reveal that the blaze was caused purposely or through negligence.

Residents of one of the area’s 11 municipally owned housing complexes scrambled to extinguish the blaze, which they claim was started by vagrants who are illegally occupying the unit for drug use.

“The tenant of this unit moved out nearly a year ago. Since he left the flat, vagrants come here to use drugs,” said a 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.

“We have lodged countless complaints with the City of Ekurhuleni’s (CoE) Department of Human Settlements. They have welded the security gate shut to prevent access, but they just pry it open and squat here, day in and out.

“We do not feel safe, and the fire proved that we all run the risk of being left homeless.”

Lease being terminated says CoE

CoE spokesperson Zweli Dlamini confirmed that the department is currently in the process of terminating the agreement with the leaseholder.

“The department is required to observe all legal procedures. Tenant grievances were recorded, and the leaseholder was notified yet afforded the opportunity to rectify contractual breaches,” he said.

“The leaseholder and nominated beneficiaries on the lease have the legal use of the assigned flat; the lease is now in the process of being terminated due to failure to abide by the conditions stipulated in the signed agreement.”

He continued by saying that charges relating to the fire, as well as any other damage caused to the unit, will be brought against the leaseholder and nominated beneficiaries, and the liability will be decided by the judicial system.

Ward 29 Clr Imtiaaz Lonaat further highlighted that the 19 other units throughout the CoE’s municipal residential stock in Actonville are currently being illegally occupied and that drug abuse is rife.

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“This has been reported to the department on numerous 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. In time, everything of value is stripped from the units and sold to scrap dealers,” he said.

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

Damage and repairs

The Karachi Court fire further highlighted the city’s lack of maintenance on essential infrastructure, including fire hydrants.

“We had to run between the seven storeys to find a working hydrant to extinguish the fire,” said a resident who also wished to remain anonymous.

“Only the one on the fourth floor was working. We stretched the hose as far as possible to contain the fire before it spread to neighbouring units.

“Unfortunately, some units’ windows burst due to the heat.”

Dlamini admitted that budgetary constraints, which have been communicated widely in recent years, has hampered the city’s ability to ensure that fire-fighting equipment at municipal buildings, including rental stock are regularly serviced, maintained and in working order.

“Funding for this has since been secured, and equipment will be attended to before the end of the 25/26 financial year,” he said.

“Damage to neighbouring units will also be repaired once the investigation into the fire has been concluded.

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