Ekurhuleni emergency services spokesperson William Ntladi informed the GCN that a residential building on Joubert Street, in Germiston, caught fire on Tuesday (August 6).
Emergency services immediately rushed to the scene of the fire after it was reported, at around 11am.
The building had 17 rooms that were occupied by residents.
“Two of the rooms accommodated families, two others were used for business purposes and the rest of the rooms were occupied by individuals,” explained Ntladi.
It is believed that one room, which belonged to a resident who sold traditional muti, is where the fire might initially have started in the building.
“The entire room was completely burned, as well as the other room, which was used for business purposes” added Ntladi.
“Seven children from surrounding buildings were hospitalised after inhaling smoke.”
The children were taken to the Bertha Gxowa Hospital, in Germiston.
“There were no fatalities,” added Ntladi.
“The owner of the building could not be contacted, however the monitor of the building was present.
“It is one of those old buildings in the CBD.
“We suspect that there was some illegal dwelling that might have taken place inside the building as well.”
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
