Government condemns burning of Germiston Home Affairs office during protest
The government has condemned the burning of the Germiston Home Affairs office, allegedly set alight by protesters during eviction-related unrest, calling the act an attack on social infrastructure.
The government has strongly condemned the burning of a Home Affairs office in Germiston on Tuesday morning, allegedly by protesters during eviction-related unrest in the CBD.
According to reports, protesters allegedly set the building on fire during clashes over evictions, with some residents reportedly demanding occupation of Pharoe Park flats without paying rent.
Acting director-general of the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), Terry Vandayar, said such acts of vandalism undermine the country’s hard-won rights and freedoms, and place an unnecessary financial burden on taxpayers.
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“While the Constitution guarantees the right to protest, it must be peaceful and in a lawful manner that respects the rights of others and safeguards public property. Violence and destruction are not acceptable means of expressing grievances, and will not be tolerated,” Vandayar said.
City of Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) spokesperson William Ntladi said they received calls about the fire shortly after 08:00.
He said the fire severely damaged the two-storey building, but no injuries were reported.
“The top floor was fully ablaze. As for the bottom floor, we are still battling to break in and see what’s happening. Multiple fire stations and vehicles are on site, with several firefighters working to extinguish the flames,” Ntladi said.
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Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, “Home Affairs is gathering evidence and will open criminal charges against the anarchists who set fire to a block of flats in Germiston, which then spread to the neighbouring Home Affairs office.
“It is nothing less than an attack on our social infrastructure and cannot stand,” Schreiber said.
Authorities are investigating the incident.
